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!

Why I chose this title and other musings

For many years I have heard of the book, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” But never read it. I knew enough about it that I could laugh at the jokes made on VH1 at the book’s expense, (but, I was laughing because I am a counter-culture member of my generation. Read my next post to see what I mean by that!)but had never bothered with it. So why, being a little Christian girl obsessed with Jews, did I never pick up this book?

At some point I had been told I should read Judy Blume’s book Blubber. Not a good idea. I can not think of a worse book to give a young girl, especially one who has body image issues and, shall we say, “grew up early”. I was traumatized by the atrocities that occurred in this young adult novel.

After this blucky-Blume experience I was less than thrilled at the idea of picking her up again, but the other night at my dog sitting job I had forgotten my book, and so went looking in the various bookshelves around the house. I stumbled upon “Are you there god? It’s me, Margaret.”

So I began to read it.

A little ways in there is a prayer to God before she attends Temple for the first time, which ends with, “…I’ll look for you” I love this idea of a little girl who has never been "formally" introduced to God or Religion just up and going to Temple and looking for God.

I have not finished the book yet, but my initial impression is that Margaret’s attitude to God is refreshing in it naivety. She addresses God as though she were calling him on a cell phone with bad reception, “Hello?! Can you hear me? It’s me! Hello?!” , and then continuing as if she doesn't really care if God can hear or not.

Surprisingly, the ‘real’ book I am reading, “eat, pray, love” by Elizabeth Gilbert, is the memoir of a woman who is learning how to speak to God at a later stage in life, but is much less skilled at it then Margaret. She, too, has a bit I like, about sitting on the bathroom floor and hearing a voice while she is praying (and crying). The voice comes from within her and is beautiful, calm and loving, just what I have been taught God is.

So, I am looking for God, and I realize I may not need to look any further than myself, but I am willing to look in a temple, too.

Currently, my God cell phone is a pay-per-use that I grab only when I’m in dire need, but I hope to buy a plan soon…