April 25, 2007
Busy Summer
Things are going to be hectic around here for the next couple of months, so I might not post a heck of a lot. First, there's the big move, which will take up most of the first half of May, what with all the painting and floor refinishing and organizing. We close on the new place on May 1, and the sale of the old place is final on May 14. In between is craziness (and a short trip to NYC).
Then, probably in June, my favorite art historian and I will be submitting our relationship to the state for official registration. Perhaps you can tell from that description that we're not being very traditional about it: no lace, no church, no dance-till-dawn, no speeches, no annoying tapping of spoons on champagne glasses (which I discover is a mostly Midwestern thing anyway). MFAH's family is planning a series of events in Maine in August, and sometime before then we'll probably have a housewarming/celebrate our new tax status party at the new place. And my mother wants to plan something for the homestead, too.
Somewhere in there, I'm legally changing my name to Michael Justman-Phillips. Justman is my mother's maiden name, and growing up my Grandpa Justman was probably my favorite person in the world. I've always thought it's sad that there aren't any Justmans from his side of things wandering around, and since my teens I've wanted to do this, but laziness and poverty tended to get in the way. I'm still trying to figure out how exactly it works (do men get the same easy out that women do when they take their husband's name?), but it's gonna happen this summer.
Finally, I've decided that I don't want to be Goatdog anymore. I've been frustrated for a while by feeling embarrassed when I tell people what my review site is called; right or wrong, a lot of people think it's silly and don't take it seriously. Plus, I feel like it's time for a change. I might lose some traffic for a while, but I'm past obsessing about that. The problem now is trying to find a good name that isn't already taken. If you have any ideas, please share them.
I guess that's it. What are you doing this summer?
Posted by mike, April 25, 2007 11:20 AMWorking and going to my sister Thea's wedding in Charlotte. When I look at my credit card bill in July, I will long for more people to take your method of official tax registration. ;-)
Posted by: shane at April 25, 2007 2:44 PMNo more goatdog? Whoah, that's big. Oh, and the getting married thing, too. So you want a name that will be taken seriously but isn't boring? Hmmm. mikesmovies.com.
Posted by: Brian at April 25, 2007 3:39 PM1. Congratulations!
2. I've always been too shy to ask why you titled it goatdog in the first place. Care to share?
3. Most of my summer will be spent (if I can make it happen) in the forests of the northwest.
4. Looking for a new name for the blog? Check out this post (http://dvdpanache.blogspot.com/2007/03/700-possible-blog-names.html) at DVD Panache. Adam has got 700 blog title ideas over there. Seriously.
Posted by: Thom at April 25, 2007 4:11 PMI sort of thought the Chicago housewarming/tax status celebration might be after the August party. Hard to imagine getting the new place into shape before then. But what do I know?
Thanks, everybody.
Thom: don't be shy! It's well-advertised: "Goatdog was Pookie, a mutt that looked a bit like a dirty sheep. He disappeared in 1993 in the woods surrounding Manistee, Michigan. He has not approved of my use of his nickname." He was a mascot of sorts.
So far, all my ideas are taken. I wanted to be Just Films, a play on my new compound last name, but every variation of that is taken, including anything resembling Just Cinema or Just Movies. Darn.
Posted by: goatdog at April 25, 2007 5:59 PMSome things I've thought of in the past hour or so. "The Matinee Seat", "Justman Films", "Pomp and Cinema", "A Cinema of Movies" (a play on the thousands of film books and articles that start "A Cinema of [insert term]"). Thoughts?
Posted by: goatdog at April 25, 2007 6:49 PMYour mom is a "Justman wandering around....." I think it is very nice to honor your grandfather.
Posted by: MFAH's mom in maine at April 25, 2007 7:20 PMWhen you are in NYC, maybe you will have a moment to come by and say hello? I haven't seen you in too long.
Posted by: Amy at April 26, 2007 12:56 PMAlso, Congratulations! On everything.
Posted by: Amy at April 26, 2007 12:56 PM"Just A Man films", perhaps? Invert Armstrong's mistake.
And shouldn't it be "YFAH"? Rebecca posting as "MFAH" displays a disturbing amount of narcissism. ;)
Posted by: Stevis at April 26, 2007 1:35 PMUh, Stevis, you fail to notice that "my" and "Mike's" begin with the same letter. After all, I'm part of a community of commenters here. True narcissism would be to assume that I'm all y'all's favorite art historian, too.
Posted by: MFAH at April 29, 2007 11:42 PM(Although she is everyone's favorite art historian, right? RIGHT?)
Posted by: goatdog at April 29, 2007 11:44 PMdo men get the same easy out that women do when they take their husband's name?.
It's not actually that easy. It's a pain in the ass. You have to change everything that is in your name (driver's license, credit cards, etc.), and you are not officially renamed until you change your name with the social security office. I know that women get one freebie the first time they get married, but after that there is a fee to change the name. I'm not sure if it's the same for guys. That said, I'm definitely not discouraging what you are doing. I think it's cool!
Also, congratulations on your upcoming not-wedding. :)
Posted by: angela at May 4, 2007 7:20 AMHey, contrats! Being married is good. I, too, once eschewed all things nuptial. But now that I'm, you know, married - I seem to be getting traditional in my old age. Can I pretend your registered at Target and get you a couple of forks and a blender?
Posted by: McCabe at May 4, 2007 5:02 PMAngela, I guess I meant "the same cheap out" instead of "the same easy out". It costs almost $400 to change your name: $294 for the filing fee, and then at least $100 for publishing costs (you have to publish a notice in a local paper). I really hope I get the first-time-married freebie. I suppose I should actually, you know, call them and ask.
Matt, we have plenty of forks and a good blender, but I'm sure we can figure something out. What's that? You said "plasma TV"?
Posted by: goatdog at May 6, 2007 6:56 PMHey bud! I note that criticdog.com isn't taken; your old fans can meet your new ones. Or what about criticaster.com? (On the model of "poetaster," meaning "a poet who writes worthless verse.") But perhaps it's dignity you want. What about http://www.eminenceblond.com/ (on the model of eminence grise).
I'm terrible at imagining dignity. But I want you to have some if you want.
Posted by: lb at May 8, 2007 12:17 AM