Bible Names

My brother was born the summer before I went to kindergarten. I suppose I was excited about the arrival of the new baby though I probably didn't really understand.

Not long before he was born, my parents asked me if I had any suggestions for what we should call the new baby. They very specifically asked for a Bible name. I believe this was to prove to their new church friends that the religion thing was sticking. I thought about it quite seriously before giving them my answer.

"I think we should name the baby Jesus."

Yeah, you try explaining to a five-year-old why if you're requesting a Bible name you shouldn't just go with the star of the whole show!

And then they named him Rob. I may be rusty on my Bible knowledge but I don't remember a whole lot of Robs in there.

Babynames.com: The meaning of the name Robert is Bright Fame

Bright Fame. That just oozes Jesus.

P.S. I finished my first book for 2010 yesterday. 24 more to go!
P.P.S. Is "oozes Jesus" appropriate?

First Fursday: Peasant Crunchies

This is Tonya reporting in for a little First Fursday action. Good timing since long-haired human is passed out on one Recliner of Death with a migraine and short-haired human is passed out on the other Recliner of Death with a stomachache. I don't know why he doesn't just barf in a shoe and be done with it.

Anyways.

It seems we've fallen on hard times. I heard long-haired human complaining the other day about the cost of gas for her car. Short-haired human replied that the real sign of a recession is the cost of cat crunchies.

Maybe they thought we wouldn't notice but when he came home from our PuddySmart, I immediately saw he had two bags of crunchies. At first I was excited but then I realized that I didn't recognize the second bag. Blue? Purina? What was this?

Then came this morning. I sang for my ration, as usual, and short-haired human dropped my breakfast in the dish. Only, it smelled different. As I started chomping, I realized that half of these crunchies were of the usual gourmet variety. And the others? Unacceptable!!! What trickery was this?

So I picked around them and left them in the dish. No way was I lowering myself to eat those second-rate kibbles. Rusty, of course, ate his because he has no standards whatsoever. But when my humans come home tonight, they'll see that I, Tonya The Great, will not be forced to eat this peasant food.

I think I'll further drive home my point by swiping whatever they have for their dinner. Please let it be tuna...

Word of the Year: 2010

I'm a few days late but that's because I've had other fish to fry or something. Plus, it took me a few days to really think this through.

Last year, Beth posted about the concept of choosing a word to sum up your hopes or plans for the year. I chose focus and it served me well.

"Focus" helped me keep track of things I needed to work on, allowing me time for the things I wanted to work on.

"Focus" was also especially helpful in dealing with my anxiety. By discarding the issues I couldn't do anything about and just taking one thing at a time, it really helped me survive the year.

In fact, "focus" served me SO well that I'm having trouble giving it up. So I've decided that instead of just leaving it behind, I'll consider my words what they should be - learning experiences that transform us going forward.

And this year, I have a new word, "effort".

Main Entry: ef·fort
Pronunciation: \ˈe-fȯrt\
Function: noun

Meaning: the active use of energy in producing a result
Synonyms: elbow grease, exertion, expenditure, labor, pains, sweat, trouble, work
Related Words: grind, energy, attempt, endeavor
Near Antonyms: idleness, inaction, inactivity, inertia

Those "near antonyms" terrify me. They also describe my life over the past few years. See, last year was about surviving. It was about learning to handle myself and the world but I did a lot of that from the semi-comfort of a safe routine. This year will be about not just muddling through but also about making an "effort" to move in a direction that makes me happy. I actually considered "happy" and "change" as my words but felt "effort" could be applied in a more widespread manner.

I'm planning to make an effort in my health, my career, my writing, my reading, my relationships, my self-image, really my entire life. Some steps will be bigger than others - I can't do it all at once. But it's important that I realize I have to make an "effort" if I don't want to keep on as things are currently heading.

What about you? Do you have a word that describes your plans for 2010? And don't worry, this should be the last holiday-related post. I think I've officially finished putting away the tinsel. Though I'm not sure quite what Tonya and Rusty have planned for First Fursday tomorrow.

Me, The Juror

Yesterday was the big jury duty I was all spazzed about. Since I am writing this post, you've probably figured out by now that I somehow managed to survive it.

As expected, a lot of "hurry up and wait". I did manage to find the parking garage and the courthouse. I arrived around 8:20 and it was 9:30 before we were all oriented and sworn. The clerk immediately called a handful of people and the rest of us waited.

And waited.

Waited some more.

Around 11:30am I decided to grab a sandwich from the deli next door. Just as I finished it up, the clerk announced that we were being released for lunch. Until 2:30pm. Wow, no wonder the county's so inefficient if they're taking 2.5 hour lunch breaks!

At 2:30, I returned to the boring jury lounge and at 3:15 I was dismissed for the day. "Thanks, you've served, you won't be called for at least two years!"

In the end, a total waste of a day. Bored out of my skull. BUT!!! It was kind of what I asked for. I didn't have to be questioned, I didn't have to sit on a case, I didn't have to jure. Which isn't a word but I don't care.

I did get to do some people watching. What everyone had in common was that they all had their reasons that they were inconvenienced by being there. Some were too important, some were too needed by a herd of children at home, some were losing money by not working their regular shift. What, the $20 or whatever we're paid for the day doesn't pay the rent?

Oh, also, I totally got lost at the end of the day and spent 30 minutes wandering around downtown looking for the parking garage because I came out a different exit and some crazy lady said she knew where we were going. I had to call Joe and be all "I'm lost." And he was all "this is why I bought you a GPS." And I was all "yeah, but I can't even find the car!" And he was all "seriously, woman."

Good times. Good times...

Judgement Day

Today I have jury duty.

Me, who is so freaked out the night before as I write this that I'm pretty sure I won't even find the parking deck. And if I find the parking deck, some deity help me because I'm pretty sure I can't find the court house 2 blocks away. And if i DO find the court house? I'm going to freeze to death on the way there because it is a frickdiculous amount of freezing coldness here.

Oh yeah, and let's just say I get there all in one piece and on time, thus avoiding being fined or thrown into jail. THEN I may be seated on a jury in which I'm expected to judge another person's innocence. And possibly throw out some sentencing.

Yeah, me. Me who (whom?) does not believe I'm really capable of deciding whether I should take the highway or city streets. Me who has spent the last 60 minutes spazzing about my ability to reach the place wherein I may be handing out punishment. Dude, I'm not worthy of trying to operate a vending machine on behalf of someone else. Please don't count me as a peer.

My hopes are that either I am dismissed early or struck by lightning before I screw someone's life up for them.

And please let it be before lunch because you would not believe the amount of spazzing I have done over the lack of information regarding the lunch situation.

P.S. I will have Gwen (my Blackberry) unless they take her away so please leave a comment, send an email, or drop me a Tweet of encouragement.

P.P.S. Assuming I escape from this experience with my life, I'll be posting my "Word of the Year: 2010" tomorrow. But, again, that's assuming I don't die or something. Or end up thrown into the clink (is it called a "clink"?) for obstruction of justice or contempt of court or for wearing jeans because I'm fat and want to be comfy and not freeze to death.

P.P.P.S. Laugh all you want but I'm seriously freaking.