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.

In honor of the Princess I have posted a picture of one of my favorite members of fictional royalty, Robert Munch's "Paperbag Princess." She is a brave young woman who doesn't need anyone else to fight her battles. And she knows that what is most important isn't tiaras and finery but what's on the inside. If you haven't read this little fairy tale, I highly recommend it. But I digress.

1. So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog? My blogging name comes from Onkel Hankie Pants, who started his blog first and referred to me as Auntie Knickers there. It's both a play on the pants theme and also on my real name. I named my blog "Exile's Return" for the reasons stated under the title.
   
2. Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog? Any stories there? Yes. Some of the names are self-chosen by those involved, such as Onkel Hankie Pants, SonShineIn, Cordeliaknits and now, Sisterfilms. For the rest, primarily I picked one distinguishing characteristic for each person. For example, Temple Truck Woman has an "art car" that is made to look like a temple. Brother #1 painted some of the images (maybe all); here is one.
3. What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun? Good in Parts. Film Aching. Hey, There's a Dead Guy in the Living Room.
   
4. What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals of course! Well, Cordeliaknits, of course. Given the time difference between Maine and California and the concern about cellphone minutes (hers), it's the best way of staying in touch with my daughter. The Lipstick Chronicles, a blog by some mystery writers. And StoneSoupArt, partly because I've met the blogger (a friend of Cordeliaknits) and partly for the beautiful photographs.
   
5. Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why? I'm pretty sure the first blog I read was Songbird's. It was recommended in the newsletter of a nearby church, neither hers nor mine. I got hooked. Then Cordeliaknits started hers and it just snowballed from there until I couldn't stand it any more and had to have my own blog.
   

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks? Yes, apart from the ones I already knew before I read their blogs, I have met Songbird at the bean supper at her current church, and when I was in Minneapolis recently I had coffee with Diane from Faith in Community -- great fun! Songbird and I hope to get our dogs together some time, but I'm afraid Molly and Sam will be shocked and dismayed by Rusty's bad manners. Here is the traditional Blogger Meetup Feet picture from my and Diane's morning at the Birchwood Cafe:

Finally Getting Around to this Meme

Some time back, I'm embarrassed to say how long, Crimson Rambler tagged me for this middle name meme. Here are the rules:
1. You have to post the rules before you give your answers.
2. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name or your mother's maiden name).
3. At the end of your blog post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged.)

I don't know why, but this was hard for me. Maybe because my middle name begins and ends with the same letter? Maybe it's the onset of senility that I couldn't think of any descriptive words starting with the letters? Anyway, Sisterknits helped me. So here goes:

A is for Amazing (remember, this is what my daughter says, not what I say!)
N is for Narcoleptic (well, I do fall asleep sometimes in the middle of the day....)
D is for Dorky (no comment)
R is for Respectable (now, does this mean I am deserving of respect, or just that I am outwardly conventional?)
E is for Evolving (into what I don't know)
A is for A Mommy. (hee-hee)

I tag
stonesoupArt
sisterkNits
corDeliaknits
Ringelstrumpfe
onkel hAnkie pants

You can tell that I don't have a large number of blogging friends. And most of them have already done this meme.

Something Fun

I found this one on one of our new RevGalBlogPal's blogs --

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Penguin Chrysler [sounds more like a whole band to me]
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Coffee Wicked Good Moccasin
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Calico Cat
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Andrea Gardiner
5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first three letters of your last name, first two of your first name): STRNI
6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Red Drambuie
7. NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Stephen Caesar
8. STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Shalimar Needham
9. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your fifth grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Lehman Louisville
10. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Christmas Daffodil
11. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Blueberry Turtleneck
12. HIPPIE NAME (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Bismarck Birch