Nicknames Redux

by Elizabeth Posted on August 5, 2010

Sometime around 11:37 p.m. last night I realized that I

Around that time krumping was making its way into the main stream and being featured on a number of TV shows. And because it sounded so similar and I knew absolutely nothing about my husband back then, I thought maybe he participated in that kind of dancing. I’ve never shared that with him before. Surprise, Kevin! For me that was STRIKE TWO because if you think bringing that into the Johnson household would have been acceptable at all then you do not know my Paw Paw or Dad.

Posted in Daily, Friends & Family, The Husband, Videos | 5 Comments

Never Ask Questions

by Elizabeth Posted on August 4, 2010

I have a bad habit of never asking some questions that I should and often asking questions that I shouldn’t. Like, sometimes I don’t realize that my line of questioning and what people could infer about my thought processes might lead them to believe I’m a psychopath.

But that’s only sometimes. Then afterward I always feel really guilty. You know, like what I just said came out sounding an awful lot like I’m plotting to kidnap someone’s child when…really? That’s not what I meant at all. By then it’s usually too late and I’ve made a horrible first impression. Oh, I didn’t mention that I most often do this the first time I meet a person? Well, yeah. THAT.

I don’t know how I ever got a job at a day care. (Yes, I do. I’m a competent, responsible adult. You know what I mean though.)

The questions I don’t ask almost always revolve around nicknames. Seriously, I will never ask a person what their nickname means. I think it may stem from childhood trauma when my cousins would call me Lizard Breath. Or the embarrassment I suffered in 10th grade when I couldn’t keep my big mouth shut. You see, I used to be known for blurting out whatever was in my head (I once used the phrase “trailer trash” out loud in junior high before I remembered that half of my class lived in a trailer *cringe*), but I’ve come a long way since then. Back in 10th grade though, I was in my language arts class and on the first day of school a roster was going around the class and we were to write the name we wished to be addressed by. Back in those days no one called me “Liz” and only my closest friends called me “Lizzy” so the name I wrote that day was Elizabeth. I scanned the page before writing my preferred name and noticed a new one on the page. Before the filter kicked in I blurted out,

“Who’s ‘Big Stick’?”

And it was loud. There was laughter. My eyes widened when I realized what I’d said and I ducked my head to write my name. I handed the sheet to the person behind me and swatted at my friend who was now proceeding to ask the new guy what his nickname meant.

I think that’s where the trepidation about asking the meaning behind a name began forming. There was another guy, “Tater” — never asked about that one either. Maybe he liked fried taters. Or maybe it was/is a reference to an area south of the belt line — I don’t know. Then there were “Scooter” and “Enos.” I don’t know about the latter two, but the former? Oh yeah, they still go by those names. (Hi guys! Please don’t share the meaning of your nickname with me. I’d rather remain in the dark.)

It wasn’t until a few years ago when I started working in an office that I ran into someone with another interesting nickname. (This was also the place where I was referred to as “Sabrina” [nickname] and “Alyssa” [by people who stop listening after 3 syllables on the phone] more often than my own name.) I finally had the guts to ask somebody. Cause this nickname, well…makes it sound like he could be a really difficult person to deal with. But when I asked no one would tell me. I was left to assume, like always, and I’ve got a pretty wild imagination. And if your name sounds mildly perverted or something, or like you have some kind of problem, well, that’s what I’m going to think. You need some kind of disclaimer like, “Yes, my nickname is Furrball but it’s because I was born with a mop on my head, not because I have an affinity for stuffed animals, scritching, and fursuits.”

So I went through the first few months of work there waiting for “The Fury” to live up to his name. Expecting some kind of anger issues or at least meanness. What did I get? The most soft-spoken person in the building.

Beats me.

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Tuesday Morning Coffee

by Elizabeth Posted on August 3, 2010
Posted in Bloggers, Daily, Features, Listy, Sunday Morning Coffee | 1 Comment

Lessons Learned While Wedding Planning #3: What’s worth having the final say?

by Elizabeth Posted on August 2, 2010

Back when I first posted about this topic, one of my dear readers, Laura, asked:

“What do you think is worth having the final say over, and what should you just let someone else decide for you? (In terms of flowers, food, decoration, stuff like that)”

Great question. It’s one that’s good to be thinking about ahead of time, but the answer is something you may not be sure of until you are in the middle of things.

Quick answer: It’s different for everyone. Not all brides put the same value or importance on different aspects for their wedding. You have to decide what is important to you. I covered this a little before, but I’m going to talk about some details here to help you get a better idea.

What is probably worth having the final say about

  • The dress
  • The venue
  • The officiant
  • The attendants
  • The vows

I think we can all agree on The Dress. If it is as important to you as it is to most brides, this is something you’ll be heavily involved in choosing and make the final decisions on. Personally, I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way. However, I know that women exist in this world who care very little about clothing, their wedding gown included, and can toss this responsibility over to someone who does. And not bat an eye. I know they are out there. I’ve just never met one. 

Then there’s the whole “posse” method of choosing a dress. I had one with me, but they were trusted individuals who knew my taste, style, and helped me to look at the dress with the whole wedding in mind. (My mom, my dad’s mom, and Heather) A lot of wedding planners and stylists advise against bringing people along with you, but I can’t agree with that. A huge posse is a very, very bad idea. But close people that you trust and who won’t forget this is your dress? Not a problem.

When decisions are made for you

A few years back a friend of mine was getting married and I was in the wedding party. I showed up at her house one day to help her with preparations and she hurriedly rushed me back into one of the bedrooms and shut the door. I started to ask her what was going on, but before the words made it out of my mouth she opened the closet.

And there it was.

Lace, frills, puffy sleeves, a tall neck, and appliqued rose buds. I’m sure it was gorgeous in 1990, but now?

“Uh…ohhh. Is that your dress?”

“Are you kidding me?! I’d never wear that!”

Well, I had hoped not…

“My mom went shopping yesterday and came home with…this.”

She eventually told her mom that she wouldn’t wear the dress and I admired her for standing up like that. I know her mom was trying to be helpful, it was just something I couldn’t relate to.

Unless you want to count that Christmas season when I finally told my mom to stop buying me clothes that I didn’t specifically ask for.

Rude? Ungrateful, you say? Leave your address and I’ll ship you all my appliqued cat sweaters from the mid- to late-90s.

Prioritize and communicate

All that to say every situation is different. You never know what’s going to be thrown at you or what, in the middle of wedding planning, you suddenly care about. Or stop caring about completely. Think about the things that matter to you. The list above includes things that are pretty reasonable to want one way or another.

  • The venue was important to me (I wanted to get married where the majority of my family would be able to attend; the groom is from out-of-state anyway so his family had to travel wherever we got married in Oklahoma).
  • The officiants were important to both of us (He wanted his college mentor/pastor/friend to do the vows and I wanted to include the minister that married my parents and dedicated me, as well as the minister at the church my parents attend — where the ceremony was held).
  • The attendants were important to both of us (He went ahead and had the larger number of attendants after some of my bridesmaids dropped out; I didn’t buckle under pressure to include family members who are not and have never been close).
  • The vows were important to both of us (We both share a disgust for personal vows that are a little TMI/gushy/mushy/save-it-for-the-honeymoon, and wanted something that fit our personalities and presented our commitment toward each other in a joyous way that also conveyed the solemnity of the moment).

Don’t be afraid to let go of things that don’t really matter. At the end of the day — you will be married! That’s the important thing.

If you have any particular questions you’d like answered, feel free to leave them in the comments or email me at liz @ misswisabus.com

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My Last Meal

by Elizabeth Posted on July 27, 2010

I went to Freddy’s this afternoon and ate a ton of food that I am not supposed to have. Ah well. Living a little before the school year gets started.

Kevin chose moderation and had a hamburger and fries.

kevin @ freddy's

I…did not. I had a hamburger and fries and a chili dog. *hides face in shame*

steakburger & fries

chili dog

But I have no regrets. Tomorrow is a new day, fresh with no hotdogs…err…mistakes in it.

Posted in Daily, Food, Photos, The Husband | 5 Comments