Nick the Name

My family drove down to visit me yesterday, and we entered in a lively discussion about the Nickname. For no apparent reason, my family is mildly obsessed with finding funny nicknames for people around them, and those nicknames tend to be derisive.

Nickname Highlight Role

Chet - Cheddar Cheese, Poogs, Uncle Chi-chi
Jocelyn - Jocie, Poobe, Jodger, Jiggy, Jibby
Dione - Didi, Geegs, Didi-bidi-bumba, Sweet Dee
Cassandra - Cass, Soggy, Cassi-andra
Mom - Ma-ster of the Universe, MA-MA, Cryp (from Cripple, I don't think I ever called her this to her face)
Dad - .... I can't remember ever having a nickname for my father. Such a tragedy since he's the King of making up nicknames. Any ideas???

Oh yeah, and FREE LEONARD PELTIER!!!!

Sammi

Are Bob and I fools? Yes, yes we are. But we are fools in love; more precisely, fools in love with making poor decisions that make the other person deliriously happy for a short time. In this category fall several cars, many computers, oodles of books/cds/electronics, a HD-television, and now dog #3, Sammi.

Sammi has the disposition of Maggie, but is full Weimeranar, and acts the part. I love her. Bob has regret.

Is this true love? Where is the point when you have sacrificed too much for the person who means the most to you? Lately, I've looked at a person close to me and the choices she has made for someone she cares a great deal about. I feel she is throwing away opportunities that will never be regained and perhaps even her own happiness for someone she... loves??? How much is too much?

Regardless, Sammi nee Sage nee Shoushouljdfd (???) is a sweetheart and I love her already so much. I hope she fits well into our growing family.

Cindy Crawford

Several people have informed me that I once again am embodying "SCIENCE" by appearing as the spokesperson thereof on the Utah State University's central website.

This time on further inspection, I realized that my moles have been airbrushed out of the photo seen above. I have been Photoshopped by some twenty-year-old publicity major at USU. I feel incredibly depressed by this.

Who do I complain to about my blemishes? What would Cindy Crawford do? (WWCCD)

Occam's Razor

Occam's Razor is defined as: All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the right one; according to the holy grail of all knowledge, Wikipedia.

Though a simple principle, this has become disconcerting to me as of late. I can't help but worry about the plain and simple truths staring me in the face. I simply don't want it to be true.


Additionally, I am very grateful for getting back in touch with dear old friends. What a surprise in my living room last night. I thought I would never see or talk to him again, but there we were, the five of us, as if no time had passed at all.

P.S. I took this picture at a park near my house. Impressive, n'est-ce pas?

Callie

Recently, I have been reading the ads on Craig's list for pets and today I found this ad:

To The Owner of Callie

I saw your beautiful golden retriever get hit by the car tonight. I can't stop thinking about it. I don't know who you are. But I want you to know that I am so sorry. I am so sorry I was a passive observer as another man hit your beautiful dog. I can't get her shrill howl out of my mind. I can't get your pain out of my mind. How you kept stroking her and talking to her after she was already dead. 12 long years to have such a friend. How do you tell your wife? How do you tell your children? I am so sorry. You are in my prayers. Callie will be waiting for you in heaven.



I was incredibly touched to have stumbled across this raw bit of emotion and empathy.

Ira Glass

I love This American Life. I will often look around and compare my life and those things that are happening to me and relate them to stories that Ira Glass has told. I've been introduced to TV shows, books. music, stories, so many things because of this show. It makes my drive to work every day bearable and tedious work enjoyable.

I'm listening to one right now. Love, love, love.

maturity

I always thought that I would wake up one day, knowing that I had reached maturity. I would be ready for the family, the responsibility, the bills... But I have most of those things, and I still don't know when I'll hit the mature phase of my existence.

And yet I look at old friends, present friends, past associates; and I realize that I have matured greatly, and didn't really notice it. I no longer go in for the cruelty of yesteryear, what's the point. At times this makes me an outcast among those I love, to refuse to ridicule the innocent, the kind, the "weak."

What is the point of some of these things? After watching an hour of ANTM, I realize that it's only made me feel petty and unattractive. What IS the point?

So I suppose maturity for me means realizing how small and ridiculous large periods of my life as well as many of those that I know seem in the light of things that really matter. There really is something to being able to apologize, to accepting criticism, and to expressing emotions to those around you.

Maturity for me means being wrong, and not blaming those around me for it.