What's in a name

I had a kid in dance class today named Stalin... Being forced to say, "Stalin, lead the way" is one of the many reasons why it's important parents know history before naming their kids... (I wonder if his parents thought, "Hmm, that name sounds familiar... I wonder where I've heard it before... Oh well, it sounds like a nice strong name. I bet he'll grow up to run a company. Stalin it is.")

The other day there was a kid named Adolf, so I suppose I should be grateful they weren't in the same class.

And another kid is named "Done."  As in. "Hi, I'm Done."

Must be hard to grow up name-challenged.

My birthday present to myself, 2018 edition

For the last several years, on my birthday, as a little gift to myself, I've posted a collection of photos, quotes, or other things that I just like and make me happy and reflect my view on life but don't really belong in a blog post.  I didn't do that this year.  Well aside from that quote above.  And this picture below:

But there's a reason for that.  It's because on August 21st of last year, I started an outline for a novel.  And last week I promised myself my birthday gift to myself would be to finish it by my birthday.

And so, 85,943 words and approximately the same number of cups of coffee later (and one broken mug handle), I gave myself a book for my birthday.

My goal for next year's present to myself: Getting it published. 

Three-second true short story

You can always learn valuable lessons if you pay attention to your surroundings. For example, today while waiting at Penn Station, I witnessed the perfect example of how to tell she's just not that into you, in three seconds:

Man making call on cell phone, in sexy voice: Hey baby, how are you?..... Oh... It's Justin.

Saturdays are for the six-year-old inside

On Saturday morning, still in my Eeyore "I woke up like this" night shirt, delighted to find the Muppet Babies on TV, as I settled into the couch.... My fiancé, looking at me and shaking his head with a smile:  Are you happy right now?

Me: You know, I have a very specific memory of being six years old, standing in our living room, and fully comprehending that I'd have to grow up one day. I told my mom I didn't want to grow up, that I wanted to be a little kid forever, and so I should be allowed to do that, because some people want to be adults and some people want to be kids, and I wanted to be a kid, and she reassured me that by the time I grew up, I'd want to be a grown-up, and I thought about it and said no, I would always want to be a kid.  

Him: ....And you were right.

Me: I was. I still want to be a kid.

Him: You're eating jelly beans, wearing Minnie Mouse slippers, watching the Muppet Babies, and you smell like a coconut snow cone in an ice cream shop.  I think you did it, Peter Pan.