Friday Five: What's in a Name?

RevHRod at RevGalBlogPals writes:

If you are a regular reader of Songbird's blog, you know that "The Princess" has requested a new name. Her older brother changed his "secret identity" a while back and now this lovely young lady is searching for a new name on her mother's blog. This got me to thinking. How do we come up with all of these names? There must be at least a few good stories out there.


1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog? My original blogging name was SisterKnits. This came from a conversation my sister, Cordeliaknits, and I had about the yarn store we would someday own together where I would be the business end and she would pick the yarn to buy...it was to be called SisterKnits. I recently changed it because I really don't have time to knit much, so I don't. I don't have time because I am usually doing film related things in my spare time, hence, SisterFilms.

Last summer I was dogsitting for my friend who is a Children's Book Editor and didn't have anything to read. So I went rummaging through her vintage collection of 1970s young-adult novels and found Judy Blume's Are You There God, It's me, Margaret. I loved the book and happened to be starting this blog at the same time, so it seemed like a good match(click the link to read my first ever post about why I chose the title!). My other blog, FilmAching, is a play on the words film making -- I often slur my words together so that when I was getting a "Self Loan" people always thought I was saying "Cell Phone," so this seemed like a good fit. Anyway, it's based on the idea that you can love something so bad it hurts.

2. Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there? Well, check out Mommyknickers site, to see an explanation of that. Hugo Boffo...I am not really sure because he picked it himself and I can't remember, maybe he will chime in with that info.

3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun? I really like a lot of the knitting blogger's titles, like dolly dimple knits, and yarn harlot

4. What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals blog of course! Well, obviously Cordeliaknits and one she recently introduced me too, the Pioneer Woman - warning! that site is addictive! I also really like Subway Knitter.

5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why? Cordeliaknits, definitely. I kind of knew what a blog was, but to hear the news talk about them, they were this weird thing for politicos and tabloid journalists, so I wasn't all that interested. But, as usual, Cordeliaknits opened my eyes to something I now can't live without...it's a really good thing she isn't into drugs, or she would have gotten me hooked, too!

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks? I have met the blogger of StoneSoupArt when I visited Berkeley last spring and then, obviously, the ones I've known all my life!

Random thoughts Running around in my head today...

...wishing i was there not here...and by "there" i mean anywhere but here...

it's really past time to get rid of that car...

..."if the fish swam out of the water, and grew legs and they started walking"...

...why does this denomination need so many rules?...why does my denomination not have a lot of rules?

...why aren't women's studies classes mandatory for high school and college students?...
why is "aren't" grammatically acceptable in the sentence above, but "are not" in its place would sound stupid?

...how about I not be so shy anymore? you know, around strangers...

why can't I spend my days watching movies and writing instead of working and commuting?

..."if the apes climbed down from the trees, and grew tall and they started talking"...

...I hope winifred is OK...

...is it weird that I want it to be september now when I won't have anytime anymore? at least I wouldn't have so much time to THINK...

..."and the stars fell out of the sky, and my tears fell into the ocean"...

...why do we have to rent space to crazy people?

..."and now I'm looking for a reason why you even set my world into motion"...

Friday Five: Summer Camp!

Mother Laura at RevGalBlogPals says:

We're settling into our new new apartment, and after a lifetime at Montessori Katie is having a fantastic summer at YMCA day camp. Meanwhile, Nicholas is packing up for a week at Camp Julian, shared by the Episcopal dioceses of Los Angeles and San Diego. His lists of supplies and rules--except for the ropes course available to the teenagers and the ban on IPODs and cell phones--bring back memories of my own happy times weeks at Y camp Ta Ta Pochon, funded by selling countless cases of butter toffee peanuts. So, in celebration of summer, please share your own memories and preferences about camp.

1. 1. Did you go to sleep away camp, or day camp, as a child? Wish you could? Or sometimes wish you hadn't?

I attended one summer camp at Pilgrim Point, the Minnesota UCC camp in Alexandria when I was in third grade. I got terribly sick and they were mean about letting me call my mom, which I was mad about. So, I didn't have the greatest experience there.

But I also went on many Brownie trips and had lots of fun on those. My favorite place was Camp Locksly because it was like a really secluded lodge that we usually had all to ourselves.


2. How about camping out? Dream vacation, nightmare, or somewhere in between?

I love camping! We did a lot of it when I was little, though not as rough as some might have it…we had a trailer because of my p-rents back problems. Of course, usually I attend the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival where we camp in tents for three weeks (those of us who work). Some of it is roughing it, but it’s mostly just nice. This summer I will not be going to Michigan, L, but I am going to the Boundary Waters for a weekend and that should be really fun! I haven’t been since I was about 7 or 8 I think, so I am hoping I will be up for the challenge!

3. Have you ever worked as a camp counselor, or been to a camp for your denomination for either work or pleasure?

At Michigan I work as a counselor for the boy’s camp. It is child care for mom’s attending the fest, but we run it like a day camp. I also once substituted at the JCC day camp in St. Louis Park. I had the kids write and produce a little play…I think it was about mice who solve a crime…big success!

4. Most dramatic memory of camp, or camping out?

I guess the thing I liked most about our Brownie trips was the way our troop was so rebellious! One trip, a big one with several troops all at the same camp, our troop leader snuck a tv/vcr into our cabin and we watched Cool Runnings! It was so against the rules that we didn't even tell one of our own troop members who was a total tattle-tale (before you judge my leader, let me just say that it was a very stressful year for us in which we had way less fun then Brownies should ever have!) That was such a great trip!

5. What is your favorite camp song or songs? Bonus points if you link to a recording or video.

This is a hard one! I love Make New Friends from brownies – as a Capricorn who still has friends from Kindergarten (who were in Brownies with me), this idea is an important one to me. But also I love the Danish Hiking Song we sing at West Denmark Family Camp!

Here is a different camping song I found on YouTube - High-larious!

And here is another song I remember from camp days at..Lake Barbra?...but I think these girls have way more attitude then we ever did! Look how the leader keeps flipping her hair! It reminds me of one of my favorite movies growing up...Troop Beverly Hills!!

God's Pottery is just about the funniest thing I have seen recently, and I am kind of sad they were kicked off Last Comic Standing, but happy I learned about their blog!

Here is a pretty funny video, but caution, subject matter is not for sensitive viewers!