addendum: Gun toting liberal has a great idea re third parties, debates and blogs. If you’re as sick as I am of the status quo–join. Tom Harper did!
When I had a plain blogger blog, I didn’t have a plain URL I began my blog shortly before the RNC and since I don’t have windows that face the street, a terrace or balcony, decided that my URL freenynyfrombushtoday.blogspot.com would be a token protest. Since I just used it for writing practice and didn’t actively move it, didn’t realize that I would soon be getting comments like “move to France,” or one very brilliant one “upstate NY supports downstate NY, we don’t need you.”
Hello, it’s the opposite way, always has been and always will. New York City schools have been consistently shortchanged through the decades. If The Campaign for Fiscal Equity wins its appeal, New York City schools might have a chance. Okay end of political speech. That was all in preperation to award myself “best semi-retired but always around url.”
With that url I did think a title such as Courting Destiny was appropriate because I must have somehow known that I was setting myself up for trouble. But then I did sorta flash John Gotti so I’m used to making trouble for myself. And I’m way too proud of that story.
The Koufax awards have been extended through Monday night. Aren’t too many single person blogs nominated so once again it’s an amazing honor. Have never defined myself as a liberal; more as a person with certain fixed ideals and beliefs–my moral stances, I suppose, and an ear that likes to listen to people and understand what they want and why. Think listening is the first step toward understanding and tolerance. Also love to talk.
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Have mentioned before that when I first met Sar we had a communication problem. Fortunately we were able to put that behind us very quickly because she’s somebody worth knowing. Sar didn’t have her own blog then but co-hosted at her brother Strider’s blog Sound destruction which is currently on hiatus.
When Sar did begin her own blog, Belle of the Brawl, I thought it was the perfect name for several reasons: It reminds me of a ninteenth century Western saloon woman. Who is the hostess with a sharpish tongue, heart of gold, and outer beauty also, just like Sar. Her tongue’s not really sharp; she’s just so darn good at making up definitions, contests and other things. Sar’s been the latest diarist I have brought to BIO.
Before I ever met Tom Harper, I was in love with the name of his blog, Who Hijacked our Country? Tom’s been a member of BIO almost since the beginning. Let me admit something. Before Katrina, I wasn’t that big on enviornmental issues. Oh I knew that I should be, but…Tom made me interested. That was a major accomplishment in itself.
Tom actually had to turn his comments off for a long time because he was being so trolled. As somebody who has been trolled even after I changed the URL, and just wrote stories in Courting, I could more than relate.
The third blog is a bit different. My real life friends have called me a walking oxymoron for years as I just blurt them out. So how could I not love IM Dedd’s screenname and blog name? Dead guy lives. He was this years first place BOB award winner for humor, and truly deserved it, is BIO’s resident cartoonist, and like Sar and Tom is one of the people who has made blogging a truly pleasurable experience for me.
Which is your favorite name: Belle of the Brawl
Who Hijacked our Country?
Dead Guy Lives
I purposely did this out of spelling order because I was always an “S” and always one of the last–but ladies first, so…
If you have any other suggestions please leave them in comments–or comment on the person you think has the best blog name and tell them so. Please not Courting, we’re nominated out,and it’s not a great name. But descriptive.
Purposely left out some other blog names I like a lot such as Ms B’s Ms BoheMia’s Rhapsody, Cooper’s Wonderland or Not, and Dan’s Scenes from a Wasted Life for reasons that will become apparent later, some day. Should award a prize How about a hundred BE credits?
I was reading Stephanie Klein’s blog yesterday and almost left a comment saying that I agree with her. A first time for everything…not really. In order to live like a real person in Manhattan you either have to have a fabulous rent controlled or stabilized apartment, bought when the market was really really low, be very rich, have very rich and helpful parents, or have another house you live in most of the time.
The middle class is being squeezed out of New York. Even people with assets can’t live well here anymore. I was tired of New York a long time before 9/11, the only thing that my move, which I hope will happen sometime this year, has to do with 9/11 is that my fixed expenses have risen 60% since then. Fortunately I bought my apartment just before prices really began rising in 1997. If I sold my apartment and moved to almost any other area of the country I could live really well. And I deserve to live like a real person not a permanent 20something. The costs of just about everything have become out of hand and absurd.
I couldn’t leave New York, and wouldn’t even if I could have after 9/11 to express solidarity with my city. And it will always be my city no matter where I live. Now I can’t leave my dentist(s) who are amazing, and for a few other reasons. But come fall…
It’s been almost four and half years since….all of us who have stayed are true patriots, and shouldn’t have to prove that. Have been saying for a long time that if you can live on coffee you have it made in New York, because it was the only affordable food. Coffee’s not a food group? Even the price of coffee is going up.
Expenses are out of hand; most people’s salaries haven’t kept up with the rising costs. New York is wonderful, but I can always watch Law & Order or look at my own slide shows. Even my sister, the true consummate New Yorker who lives on the Island, couldn’t believe how crowded it was yesterday.
Why live in a tiny apartment, in an overcrowded city filled with chain stores I can shop in anywhere? As I have stated many times, New York lost its edgy appeal to me in the late 80’s, early 90’s. I stayed because of aging parents. Don’t have to be here anymore. Yes five generations of my extended family have or do live here.
Think it’s important for people to realize that many people leave not because they’re scared, not because they hate New York, but because we want to live like real people. Should put REM’s “leaving New York is never easy,” but think I have the lyrics in other posts
I vote for Belle and Hijacked. :}
Hmmm? I’m not from New York, and I know we live in vastly different areas, but I feel the same way about my area of the world. How many more condos can they build? How much closer can they get than a “zero” lot line? What happened to the original artists who inhabited the Laguna Beach cottages? They are disappearing rapidly, with mausoleums built in their place. This little “blue” area is vastly turning “red.” I never have liked red. It’s not a good color for me. Soon I will have to make a decision.
I also know, that once I leave, I will never make it back here, not in the same way.
Ciao for now…
I hear you… Nashville and Franklin TN are growing so fast with condos and apartments that the beautiful cities are turning into nothing but buildings… no green anywhere.
Sorry I haven’t been around to much… life is crazy here. 😉
I like the name of your first blog (freenyofbush)! I’ve never been much of a city person–lived a few years in Pittsburgh and spent a couple semesters in the Bay Area, but that’s it. At one time I thought about NY for grad school, but couldn’t bring myself to try it.
btw, are you serious about wanting to do the AT? Go for it! You know, there is a place on the trail that you can see NYC on a clear day (it wasn’t clear when I came through).
Pia; thank you so very much, both for the “linkie luv” and for joining the blogroll for the American Bloggers for Inclusive Debates. You’ve been added, of course.
As for Tom, with “Who Hijacked My Country”, you’ve got to love him. He is one of my top faves as far as bloggers go. While I, like you *were*, am not as energized by the environmental topic as he is, the guy has a magical way of making me ponder the urgency of it.
Anyway… again… thank you for the link, the post, and for joining the alliance (small “A” on purpose). Maybe we’ll have some success in this next Presidential election. If nothing else, maybe we’ll wake the DNC the hell up, if not Washington.
Blog ON, friend…
I just like your name – Pia Savage.
A name to die for.
I’m all for inclusive debate which is why I loved mj’s political notio. I lean rather left but am nothing if not reasonable most of the time.
I’ll try to get that thing on my template before I leave if not then when I get back. I dare not fool too much with a wordpresss sidebar as I am a wordpress newbie. Only good thing a bout blogger was the ease of customization.
Purposely left out some other blog names I like a lot such as Ms B’s Ms BoheMia’s Rhapsody, Cooper’s Wonderland or Not, and Dan’s Scenes from a Wasted Life for reasons that will become apparent later, some day.
Oooh! You keep us in suspense!
As for the names up for a vote I love Dedd’s but I have to admit to having a soft and special spot for my dear sistah Sar… I looooveeee Sar!
Teri, that is such a shame about Laguna Beach! I have lived in Dana Point, Laguna Hills and Laguna Niguel and the only city that kept me from going insane in Southern California was Laguna Beach… good times!
San Francisco is a great city in that it is big on keeping its parks and adhering to its trademark look etc… Mayor Gavin Newsom is amazing and great for the city… but as far as prices and the like, right up there with New York. One of THE major reasons for our move away… were it affordable I would not have left. A good house, if you are lucky, costs at least $1 million. *sigh* My only hope now lies in the lottery!
I just leave comments. Mot good comments . Not bad comments. I don’t pick. I don’t praise. I just comment.
I like all three sites but for best name I’ll vote for Belle of The Brawl.
Wow, thank you for the very kind write up Pia! Coming from someone who has an impressive handle on words, I’m honored by your nod to my blog’s name.
I can’t possibly vote against my pals Tom & Dedd, so I’ll follow Dedd’s lead and cast a vote their way. But would it be wrong to say I’m a little partial to my own as well? 🙂
And even though you didn’t give us the option to vote for Courting Destiny here, I will take the opportunity to remind everyone that Pia’s been nominated in 2 (TWO!) categories for the Koufax awards and everyone should go vote for Courting Destiny now!