What's in a Name?

So I was reading about that little singer/actress Miley Cyrus who legally changed her name to...you guessed it Miley Cyrus. Apparently her name was Destiny Hope Cyrus (heaven help her) and is now legally Miley Ray Cyrus after her nickname (Miley from Smiley) and Ray (her country singer daddy's middle name). That got me to thinking, if I could change my name would I?
Legally I've had a few names, the one I was born with, then the first husband's last name, then back to my birth name, and now my married name (which I love, very Irish).
But if I could choose a name, would I go the James Bond route (Pussy Galore and Christmas Jones come to mind) or the J.K Rowling Harry Potter route (Poppy Pomfrey and Dedalus Diggle are 2 of my favorites)?
Can you imagine being saddled with one of the more unusual names celebrities have bestowed on their offspring lately? Pilot Inspecktor, Dragon, Indiana, Tiger? Geez....
I love my name and am grateful to my parents with blessing me with such a lyrical, historical and meaningful name, I even like it in it's original Gaelic format Sionainn.
For fun browsing silly names, check out:
http://www.funnyname.com/

Soup

I was feeling kinda puny yesterday after a long weekend of late night activities so my son and I made my favorite soup. With the awful Chicago winter kicking in and out of gear lately, we've been on a soup kick. Since I'm not much of a cook I enjoy one pot meals. Last week was Split Pea soup (vegetarian style) but for this post I am just posting my favorite:
Tuna, Tomato Bread Soup
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced and diced
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf
2 6 oz cans Italian tuna in olive oil, slightly drained
2 cups chicken stock (I use organic low sodium vegetable stock)
2 cups tomato sauce
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, do not drain
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 loaf of good Italian bread, torn or chopped
Parsley and grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese to top
Heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium high. Add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the garlic, red pepper flakes and bay leaf. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the tuna, breaking it up with a fork. Add the stock, tomato sauce and the diced tomatoes with their juice. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat so the soup simmers for 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and then remove from heat. Break up the bread pieces and add to the soup to thicken it. Remove the bay leaf. Serve the soup in bowls and top with parsley and grated cheese(sour cream is also a great topper)
ENJOY!
Recipe courtesy of Rachel Ray.

100 Movies, 100 Quotes, 100 Numbers

This amazing video uses 100 movies and 100 quotes to count down from 100 to 1. How many movies can you guess? I knew more than half. Have fun!

For the list of movies, click here:
http://acrentropy.blogspot.com/2007/05/for-those-who-just-have-to-know.html

Book Marks

I process more than a hundred books a day and have run across all sorts of things people have used as bookmarks and left behind.
Some of the items I've found:
airline ticket stubs
business cards
coupons
photographs
prescriptions
to-do lists
newspaper articles
leaves
receipts
money
string
This morning in a health book was a laminated card titled Morning Mental Warm-Up with a list of thought provoking reminders.

I will win. Why? I'll tell you why--because I have faith, courage and enthusiasm.
Today, I'll meet the right people in the right place at the right time for the betterment of all.
I see opportunity in every challenge.
I'm terrific at remembering names.
When I fail, I look at what I did right, not at what I did wrong.
I have clearly defined goals.
I never take advice from anyone more messed up than I am.
I never let a negative thought enter my head.
I am a winner, a contributor, an achiever.
I believe in me.

This may be the most useful and interesting thing I have found in a book yet.

Momma Mia

So my mom left today after a lovely visit and I miss her already. She flew in for a nice long girls weekend and we had the best time just being together. My mother is the coolest person I know, she's a mom, wife, sister, Nana, world traveler, retired teacher, certified diver, social group president and so happy and fulfilled in her life she inspires everyone who knows her. Many women have such complicated relationships with their moms, I'm glad ours is so effortless. In honor of her I have compiled a list of some of my favorite "mom related" books, websites and movies.
Books:
Little Women by Louise May Alcott (the classic mother daughter book)
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (a book about women)

Blog:
Mother Daughter Book Club

Website:
MotherVerse

Movies:
Meet Me In St. Louis
This Judy Garland film is one of my Mom's favorites, a story about family, sisters and her hometown of St. Louis

Forrest Gump
When Mama Gump tells Forrest he is no different than anyone else we believe her. Life is like a box of chocolates...

Favorite songs

"My song", the one song that I think defines me is "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel. I've probably heard it, played it and sung it thousands of times and it still moves me. I've wondered why...is it the melody, the lyrics, his voice?
There are other songs I just can't hear enough of including:
"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult
"Love & Anger" by Kate Bush
"Limelight" by Rush
"Sister Golden Hair" by America
"In a Big Country" by Big Country
"One Tree Hill" by U2
"Games People Play" by The Alan Parsons Project
"Another White Dash" by Butterfly Boucher
"Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell
"Golden Brown" by The Stranglers
"Missing" by Everything But The Girl
"Shut Your Eyes" by Snow Patrol
"I Miss You" by Blink-182

Some songs I just wait for my favorite lyrics like:
"I know what makes me comfortable
And I know what makes me tick
And when I need to get my way
I know how to pour it on thick" by LeAnn Rimes in "What I cannot change"
and
"Thank you for waiting through my lovers
Knowing we could come home to each other" by Paula Cole in "I believe in love"
Why do you love your favorite song? Lyrics, artist, melody?
Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel

Local Theater

Since becoming involved in the arts in high school and majoring in theater in college, I have loved live productions. I enjoyed acting classes throughout my 20's but now I prefer to watch from the audience and living in a cultural mecca like Chicago is fantastic. My friend Jessica is often my date for local theater nights and in the past few years we have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of local productions. We have enjoyed the Chicago Symphony, Broadway shows, the Ballet and lately some great improv, (of which Chicago is famous) Second City's Dysfunctional Holiday Review.
2008 appears to have some great lineups at both the professional and non professional theaters. This month I am seeing:
Aqui Estoy at the Albany Park Theater Project
February I will see:
Shining City at the Goodman
March will bring a production of Little Women starring my dear friend Rana as Jo.
Support your local theaters and enjoy the passion of the writers, the actors and the crew.