I went to Publix yesterday because I needed to pick up a few groceries (“No, really, Robyn! You don’t say! What a fascinating reason to go to the grocery store!”). In front of Publix, there was a wrought-iron table and chairs. I think they were selling that kind of furniture for a while and were down to just the one table.
As I headed from my car to the store, I noticed that there was a man sitting at the table, all kicked back and relaxing. What caught my eye, though, was that he was wearing a purple t-shirt with white letters on the front. Fred has a purple t-shirt with white letters on the front – I think it’s his “Does it look like I care?” t-shirt. Fred likes the snarky t-shirts, if I haven’t mentioned.
In the interest of full disclosure, I also like the snarky t-shirts. Please admire the latest addition to my collection:
So it became, for some reason, very important to me to find out if it was, indeed, the same t-shirt that Fred possesses, but I didn’t want Mr. Kicking-Back-and-Relaxing to think I was staring at him or anything. I’d walk a few steps and glance over at him, then repeat it. That went well for a brief amount of time, but as I approached the building, I lost track of myself and eventually realized I’d been staring at him. I glanced away, and a moment later he said “Hello.”
“Hi!” I said, all perky-like, and smiled.
“I’m at Publix,” he said.
Which is when I realized he was on his cell phone and melted into the ground in a puddle of embarrassment.
(I never was able to tell if it was the same t-shirt or not.)
I happened to read Swistle’s Baby Names over the weekend, specifically this post. I guess, after reading the comments, that I was one of the lucky ones in that no one objected what I decided to name the spud – though I’m pretty sure my mother lobbied for “Molly” at some point or another.
The spud’s real name is Danielle, for those of you who don’t know. Early on in the pregnancy I decided on Jessica and the spud’s father was okay with that (he was pretty easygoing on the subject). Then, not long before she was born, I heard or read the name Danielle somewhere and immediately changed my mind. Of course, I don’t think there’s anything TO object to in the name Danielle, but you never know. I don’t even remember what I was going to name her if she was a boy – possible Jeffrey. I liked Christopher, but my oldest brother had already used that. Actually, I think we’re a family of pretty good, solid names. Chris, Danielle, Brian, Mireya, Jeff (and Jordan for my great-nephew). The only slightly unusual name is Mireya, but even though I had never heard the name before (Spanish I think?) I thought (and still think) it was pretty.
(Though it is occasionally mispronounced as “Mariah.”)
Back before Fred and I decided we didn’t want to have any children together, we decided on the names Samantha Jayne for a girl and Seth Forrest for a boy. I still like those.
Anyway, before I went off on a tangent, all I meant to say is this: I’m pretty sure I’ll be naming a kitten “Everett Peppers” in the future, because I REALLY like that name for a kitten. Is that weird? If I get a litter of boy kittens, I’ll probably name his brothers “Henry Peppers” and “Waldo Peppers.” The Peppers Gang!
You have been warned.
Cilantro (left) and Cori. Sweet snugglin’ sisters.
Ordinarily, Clove would be there with them, but she must have wandered off. Probably harassing poor Maggie.
Now Cori’s on the left and Cilantro’s on the right. They sure do like to move around.
There’s Clove!
Grumpy are we, Clove? Don’t like Cilantro’s tail over your face?
Pile of McMaos.
Such a happy, happy boy.
I’m seeing all three Spice Girls, but only half the McMaos. Why, it’s practically a vacation for Maggie!
Cillian (I think) on the left, Cilantro on the right.
“MY stump.”
Previously
2010: Look, when you’re woken up at 4 am by a screaming little kitten wanting to be let OUT of the horror that is a room fully stocked with food, water, and all the toys he could ever possibly want, I think a nap on the couch is warranted.
2009: No entry.
2008: No entry.
2007: “Hey! I’m not a complete idiot. Of course I know who Vernon Jordan is!”
2006: It was the weirdest hyper-real instant of cognitive dissonance I have ever experienced in my life.
2005: “Oh, look a finger! I feel so relaxed and unfrightened now…”
2004: Then I sang “Iiiiiiiiiiii am the Stuuuuuuuuump of Constant Sorrowwwwwwwwww!”, which amused Fred to no end.
2003: No entry.
2002: Readers, if you love me, you will never, NEVER allow someone you don’t know who isn’t a cop (ask for identification, and LOOK at it, don’t just glance at it) inside your home when you’re alone.
2001: No entry.
2000: Black widow. Lovely.
Aw, cuddling kittehs! Which is WHY I come here every day before going to work. At least I start out my day all cheery.
Love the potential Peppers! I can only think of Pickled Peppers to add to it and that won’t work. Was there a children’s book with a bunch of kids with the last name Pepper? The Five Little Peppers? I don’t know. Probably ripped from the shelves with every other non-PC book from my childhood!! (Anyone else remember The Five Chinese Brothers!!?)
Awww, I went to look up The Five Chinese Brothers, and one of the books they were suggesting was The Story about Ping. I loved that book! I may have to order it.
But no Five Chinese Brothers? Oh, it was a great book. One could hold his breath, one could stretch his legs, and I forget what the others could do. Wait! Here it is on Amazon, in all its un-PC glory:
http://tinyurl.com/5sx2bqp
They didn’t even change it to the Five Asian Brothers!!
Heh – yeah, I did see The Five Chinese Brothers, but I got sidetracked by Ping.
I too have had a ‘cell phone’ embarassing moment. A friend was having a bachelorette party and everyone thought it would be funny to get her ‘penis’ themed gifts-straws, gummy ‘worms’ etc, all in fun. So here I go to the local ‘passionate kisses’ to get me some fun bachelorette gifts. I walked in, and in a fit of nervousness, walked to the farthest corner of the store hoping no one would see me. Then I heard ‘Hello’. So I responded “hello’. Then I heard ‘Are you ok?” I was mortified that my embarassment showed that much! I responded ‘uhm, ya…I’m just browsing for a gift for a friend’. What came next? The voice said ‘ya-I’m at work til 11, but I’ll meet you for drinks later. I have a lady in here that looks like she needs some help so I better go.” I realized that the guy was ON HIS PHONE and just about dropped dead! Needless to say I booked it out of there and gave a friend some money to pick me up something for the bride to be!
Come join me in my puddle of embarrassment.
What was the name of Christopher Guest’s character in Best in Show? Harlan Pepper?!
There is a whole SERIES of children’s books about the Pepper family. I still have my copy from 1962, my ninth b’day, inscribed from our family dog! The kids were: Ben (Ebenezer), Polly (Mary), Joel, Davie (David), and Phronsie (Sophronie). I just reread it to my class this school year.
I LOVE the name Harlan! I’m getting some good ideas for some lucky future litter. I hope it’s a big litter!
And I really really like the sound of Polly Peppers.
OMG, Tommy is HUGE! You’ve got your very own panther there!
Tommy’s our big boy. Also, badass. He will mess you UP if he needs to – but he’s mostly a lovah.
I had an embarrassing phone incident in reverse. I had my bluetooth headset on and I was walking into work as I was talking animatedly to my husband about his eating habits, heartburn and sudden weight gain. As I walked into work I said loudly to him “you really need to start eating VEGGIE BURGERS!!!” all the while I was looking at the very shocked receptionist (who is a very large woman). I immediatley told her I was on my phone….I felt so bad. I don’t use my bluetooth in public anymore!
I wonder if the guy at Publix went home and told his wife about the weird woman who thought he was talking to her!
I like your name choices. Our choices for the child that never was were Caroline Rachel and Samuel MyHusband’sOriginalSurname (he was adopted by his stepfather at 5 or 6 and his last name was changed. His original father died of cancer).
I like the Peppers Name idea. Ofcourse my brain is now playing the old Dr. Pepper jingle. “I’m a pepper, he’s a pepper…”
The look on Maggie’s face in the nursing photo is cracking me up.
She’s thinking of England!
OMG, Robyn…you and your commenters have given me an idea. I’m going to start ignoring any stranger who speaks to me in public. When they get pissy to me about it (where I live, they WILL), I’ll just say “Oh, I thought you were talking on your cell phone.”
Yeah, I like the idea of Peppers names, too. Maybe we’ve all gone simple in this heat.
That reminds me of the time I went into Sam’s with the spud, and as we walked through the door, some guy was standing there trying to sell picture packages to people. I just walked past him, and he was all “EXCUSE ME! I WAS TALKING!” and I wanted to say “Look, fucker, just because you’re TALKING doesn’t mean that I’m required to LISTEN!”
How old are the kittens? I thought they should be done with nursing after 2 months.
They’re coming up on THREE MONTHS OLD. Generally, they’ll keep nursing as long as Maggie will let them, but they don’t rely on it for their main source of nutrition. It’s just an extra! (Maggie can get away from them if she wants to, and sometimes she does.)
The look on Maggie’s face in that photo cracks me UP!!! Sort of barely-restrained panic… LOL
And here I thought the point of your rambling was to find what that man’s T-shirt said. Silly me.
Oops – I was almost a trader and checked out Katnip Lounge before coming to Bitchypoo. Almost is the word. I forgot I already visited today. It’s time for a nap, too bad I’m at work..
Squeee…kittehs! I love the Peppers theme for an upcoming litter, esp. since Henry is DS’s name, so he’d be tickled to read about a Henry Pepper :). Too bad about that couple and the Everett Saga; it is a great name and it amazes me how selfish some people really can be, but at least we’ll get to enjoy having an Everett Peppers around (oooh, can I hope for a litter of bottle babies….I know, I know, a lot of work esp. with the beans from hell, but sooooo precious). @ Leanne: thanks for the belly laugh to start the day in a positive way…tooooo funny!! @ Paula: I love The Five Chinese Brothers and bought a copy for the kids a few years ago….love that story to pieces :)!
No one has mentioned The Five Little Peppers ??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Little_Peppers
Carole M. did, up there under comment #3.
I really like the sound of the name Polly Peppers! (I know that it’s actually Polly Pepper, but I might have to keep the “s” on the end ’cause I like it.)
Obviously I am a skimmer!
What about Sergeant Peppers? BTW I love the name Harlan too!
I’ve been singing “Harlan Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Baaaaaaaand” all afternoon.
Just wanted to say I just spent an hour in the hot, hot sun picking green beans. (I was volunteering with a harvesting group.) Oh my, what a PITA that was. I have newfound respect for you.
Doesn’t it suck? The one good thing (for me) is that I pick green beans first thing in the morning before the sun’s shining on the garden. I REFUSE to do any gardening once the sun’s up over the trees!
Can you name one of the as yet hypothetical Peppers Peeper?
I left a looooong comment on Swistle’s site – I’ve experienced one, and heard of another, incident where a family member actually had a pretty good reason for objecting to a name selected for a new baby. Usually I’m of the “I don’t tell you what to name YOUR kids” camp, but there are occasions where it’s worth listening to the person’s reasons.
If I’d had a girl, she’d probably have been named Guinevere out of spite. I was considering Morgan Therese for a girl, and I told my mom, “Well, you know I like Arthurian legend, right?” and she immediately started with, “I can’t believe you’re going to do that! Guinevere is the stupidest name EVER!” and then started making all sneering, mocky, real nasal exaggerated horrible pronunciations of Guinevere. I was like, “Actually I was originally referring to Morgan, but now that I hear you say it that way, I think I DO like Guinevere much better. Thanks!”
I love that Maggie is letting the 3 girls drink from her milk bar. I know that is helping them grow into strong lady cats!