Comments for CONFESSIONS OF A WORRYWART

Comment on A BOY CALLED SCARLET? by Anita Bernstein

Anita Bernstein — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:41:25 +0000

When I was little my mother thought Jeff would be a good name for our new puppy. The friend of my parents’ who gave him to us had sworn the pup was 100% German shepherd, even though he lacked papers. My mother told us kids that Jeff is an antonym of Mutt.

(Not sure what was so desirable about German shepherds as a breed, but as he grew, poor Jeff got yellower and less shepherd-ish every day. He must have been at least a quarter Weimerarner with some blond lab thrown in. Mutt would have been a truth-in-packaging name for him.)

So on names for a dog, I got nothin’, as you see. But I’ve always thought Fury, from the tail-shaped poem in “Through the Looking-Glass,” would be a great name for my cat if I were an ailurophile. The funny fight that Fury picked with the mouse (“I’ll be judge/I’ll be jury/Said cunning old Fury/I’ll try the whole cause/and condemn you to/death”) deserves more honor. F is hard to hear over the phone, as F-named friends have complained to me for years, but Fury doesn’t overlap with anything sibilant like Sury; it’d sound loud and clear.

Comment on A BOY CALLED SCARLET? by susan fishman orlins

susan fishman orlins — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:32:57 +0000

Thanks!

Comment on A BOY CALLED SCARLET? by stephanie

stephanie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:12:21 +0000

Love the very different topics you share with us. Dogs are near and dear to my heart and wish I had the luxury of thinking of a name for a new dog for me but having a dog where I live is a “no no”. There are so many names to choose from especially since they do not even have to make sense. Being of large imagination and large vocabulary I know whatever you think of and store under “dog names” will be perfect.

Comment on A BOY CALLED SCARLET? by susan fishman orlins

susan fishman orlins — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:06:15 +0000

Haha good observation! I asked for words so I could find out favorite words and figured I might hear dog names anyway!

Comment on A BOY CALLED SCARLET? by Em

Em — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:38:41 +0000

It’s funny that you asked people for their favorite-sounding words instead of their favorite dog names! Ha! Love it!

Comment on A BOY CALLED SCARLET? by susan fishman orlins

susan fishman orlins — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:43:45 +0000

Barkypants, I am going right now to put that on the list. Suits Casey as well. You and Jon Stuart make me laugh every day, except Jon is only 4 ays a week and I can find you 7 days a week, thank goodness!

Comment on A BOY CALLED SCARLET? by cathy jacobson

cathy jacobson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:27:09 +0000

I have a German Shepherd named Adira which means Mighty and Strong in Hebrew. We were looking for a family dog that also would be protective of our family, so mighty and strong seemed fitting. As she grew we were shown she was neither of these things! She is a Golden Retriever in a German Shepherds body as far as tempermant and was clearly the runt of the litter coming out with hip dysplasia. She loves everyone! So sometimes even after you have met the dog and found that fitting name it does not fit. Her nickname proceeded to Puffy quickly, for her puffy neck hair which has moved into the names Puff Diddy, Pufferella, Puffernutter,Puffernutter Von Barkypants.

Comment on SMILING STRANGERS by sabrina

sabrina — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:05:17 +0000

cute one mom! I admit i’m a bit late reading these sometimes.
You know my usual wariness with strangers! I usually don’t make eye contact, only because usually I am walking and also listening to my iPod and a bit off in my own world. But if I do make eye contact I usually smile, because I feel like it’s nicer than not. There’s always a potential eye-lock with no smile which honestly I find a bit weird though it probably means nothing! I also do like it when a person “initiates” the smile – it is a friendly thing to do! x

Comment on WRITER + ENCOUNTER WITH STRANGER = STORY by susan fishman orlins

susan fishman orlins — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:24:33 +0000

How reassuring–I don’t think my daughters were charmed. Thanks Lise!

Comment on WRITER + ENCOUNTER WITH STRANGER = STORY by Lise

Lise — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:13:41 +0000

This is a wonderful story Susan.
I am sure the occupants of 5D were thoroughly charmed.
Good job!

Comment on WRITER + ENCOUNTER WITH STRANGER = STORY by susan fishman orlins

susan fishman orlins — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:25:56 +0000

Love you too!!!!!!! This is what happens when you have an anthropologist daughter. Am I old school? Well I’m old and yes, I suppose in ways I am old school and all the things you say. It’s just what I worried about–saying all the wrong things. But I like living on the edge this way, both by taking chances with my blogging as well as by interacting with strangers. Thanks for the comment!

Comment on WRITER + ENCOUNTER WITH STRANGER = STORY by sabrina

sabrina — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:19:41 +0000

I think for the sake of a story it was interesting but still weird that you went to his apartment…definitely a sign of typical white guilt. Anyone following someone into a locked apartment building should expect some level of suspicion for security reasons. But it is definitely important to realize all the different racial and gender perceptions and norms that are at play here. Ie. I like what you said about if it was a woman. But I did feel it was a bit old school to say ‘mixing of races’ in DC…seems very ‘othering’ when you say that.
love you mom! xxoo

Comment on WORDS WITH FRIENDS by susan fishman orlins

susan fishman orlins — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:43:26 +0000

Maria, what a great story! The part about taking a friend on a Match.com date is so funny! I hope I get more comments like this and I’ll post them (making authors annonymous) in an article on Home Goes Strong. Thanks!

Comment on WORDS WITH FRIENDS by susan fishman orlins

susan fishman orlins — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:41:33 +0000

Awesome! And, I can’t wait for your book On Being Both–I love your blog http://onbeingboth.wordpress.com/

Comment on WORDS WITH FRIENDS by Maria Muzio

Maria Muzio — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:31:52 +0000

We are all addicted to the game. Guy finally got an iPhone, so hopefully, he will now join the group.

Here’s a good story about Salvi’s experience with it;
She went along on a girlfriend’s “match.com” date because her friend felt weird about going alone. The plan was if she was having fun, Sal would leave. Salvi and the date discovered that they had been playing each other in Words with Friends and they totally hit it off. The girlfriend was NOT having a good time and left and Sal and the young man dated for several months before other circumstances led to their demise as a couple.