Contest!

Wow. You guys are just fucking awesome! I feel really excited and challenged. I'm starting to put together some research for an entry tomorrow, but today we have another order of business.

If I'm really going to do this--try to professionalize this blog a bit and challenge myself to write more topical things--then one last little thing has to change.

The blog name.

I've been told that my blog has a great name. But, funny enough, that name--you know, "...and I Wasted All That Birth Control"--came out of my, well, ass. I was signing up for my Typepad account, and I didn't put one second of thought into it. Not one. I actually thought that I would change it again (that's why the blog address is the much more generic "zia.blogs.com"). It seemed like all the good infertility blog names were taken already, and I just typed in "and I wasted all that birth control" as a filler. I never intended it to be the name of this blog for four years.

So.

Since infertility is no longer the primary focus of this blog (not that I'll stop talking about it--you know it will still come up), I figure it should no longer be the major focus of the title either.

I've recently registered the domain name www.mscecily.com, and you'll see that it points you right to this blog when you type it in. But I don't really want that to be the name of the blog. I want something better, something that will perfectly capture the foul-mouthed, liberal, feminist, fat, alcoholic, ranting mother, wife, woman and writer that I am.

I'm drawing a complete blank. Luckily, you are all completely brilliant. So! I'm proposing that you send me your suggestions. I'll pick my favorite five, then you can vote on them and the winner will be the new title of my blog!

Prizes will be decided later (I promise they won't suck). Ok? Let the naming begin!

PS: If you are all thinking that this little contest is just an attempt to trick you into not being pissed off about the name change, you are totally right. Heh.

Comments

[Kermit]

1.

Femlibfatalkymom Writes!

I have to put the sucky one out there so the later responses look even better. I'm such a giver. Bwahahahahaaa.

[Kermit]

2.

Heh. My name makes it look like you're fatal and live in KY.
Femfatlibalkymom.

[Kayla]

3.

How about.. umm.. Mothering America? America needs a mom, ya know.

[Sherry]

4.

Liferati : Intelligent, REAL writing on life.

[Genie]

5.

Ok, here's what came to me off the top of my tired head: Writ Large (or www.writlarge.blogs.com, if you will). I found this definition, and it spoke to me: "Signified, expressed, or embodied in a greater or more prominent magnitude or degree: 'The man was no more than the boy writ large' George Eliot). I admit that it first reached my mind trying to think of something that played on the size part of the equation, but when I read the definition I thought of how your expression as a writer is growing, how our expressions of ourselves as women expand when we become mothers, etc... I don't know...I like it. I'd read it. (Of course, I'd read it if you wrote it but called it "Donkey Shit," so that doesn't say much.)

[Alexis]

6.

I'm finally de-lurking...after a year plus. Sorry it took me so long :(

How about 'Sassy Mama'
Sassy standing for
Lively, spirited, stylish, chic

[Adina]

7.

Can never resist a contest!

Here are my ideas:
1. "Trench Warfare"
2. "The Ego and the ID"
3. "Second-Wave", as in Second Wave Feminism.

Good luck with a new name, and I promise to keep reading even if you don't pick one of mine!

[Journeywoman]

8.

I like Liferati.

But here's some from the top of my head.

Infertility Detox

Ruebenesque

I'd stay away from the "Mom" or "Mama" label because it would give newbies the thought that "Hey, this is a Mommy blog" (I AM SO NOT DISSING MOMMY BLOGS) but since it's going to be more, I'd make the label reflect that.

[Stephanie]

9.

I personally LOVE the name of your blog......but it IS yours and you can do whatever you want with it....so....
my suggestions are:

1.biotch
2.cec says
3. what happened to life

lame I know

[Karen M]

10.

Obviously, I was really taken with that piece about your father's funeral...

How about something like?

"Careful what you wish for... how I escaped a WhiteTrashChildhood."

I think all (or at least most of) the themes you've mentioned above would have some sort of tie-in.

[Spacemom]

11.

"I want something better, something that will perfectly capture the foul-mouthed, liberal, feminist, fat, alcoholic, ranting mother, wife, woman and writer that I am."

1) The rantings of a foul-mouthed, liberal, feminist, fat, alcoholic, mother, wife, woman and writer.

2)Obsessive Thoughts

3)Raising Hell, in a public forum

4)The Unconventional Blogger
(with all of your descriptors in the masthead)

Can't think of anymore right now except

5) The Feminist Mystake (play on Mystique)

[Meggan]

12.

This might be kind of obvious, but I rather like "Cecily Says." It'd give you free reign over what to talk about, and it's very much YOU. It's short and to the point, it doesn't rope you into a liberal blog, mommy blog, infertility blog, or anything else, and it has a nice alliteration to it, too. And it fits well with the URL - visit "Cecily Says" at mscecily.com.

My two cents. :)

[Heather]

13.

Well, I will tell you, that I do like your "And I wasted all that birth control", but since that title is so long, I have your link saved under the name "CECILY".
I have no problem with Ms Cecily, it's who you are and it is simple, and honest. Not that you are simple.

[Kim]

14.

Well C, I wanted to come up with something creative, but I'm at work and they are paying me to think for them. So, I went to the o'l bible for help. My suggestion, as the bible refers to us & you "Mother of the Universe".

[Kim]

15.

I'm stealing one of your own lines for this. How about the title of your last post "Keyboard at the Crossroads"?

[Nancy]

16.

i'm voting for Genie's idea Donkey Shit, i think that sums it up perfectly

frankie and i are thinking, cause lord knows i loves me a contest

i asked frankie if he would help and he says, "she's not calling it - i spent all that cash on contraeption - anymore?"

[Nancy]

17.

sorry typo - contraception

[Colleen]

18.

What about:

"...and I Wasted All That Mind Control: the intellectual ramblings of a foul-mouthed, liberal, fat, alcoholic, wife, woman and mother"

[Donnie and Jason Surla]

19.

You didn't say no to multiple suggestions, so...

1. Shooting from the Hip

2. Only Human

3. Razors and Roses
(*because you're sharp and beautiful!)
-D.

[Catherine]

20.

So far, I like "Raising Hell" and "Writ Large". I'll add "Bitch on Wheels", just because I really like the word bitch. :) But it's probably not commercially viable, hmm? How about "Life in Overdrive"?

[Joy]

21.

***delurk***
Since Cecily means blind, how about something like that?
-The blind quill (or pen or pencil)
-LIFEblind
-Blind Site (oh, so punny!)

[Alana]

22.

How about Apocolocynposis? It's the fear of turning into a pumpkin. Kind of like being all that you are because you don't want to be a pumpkin? I mean figuratively of course. Or is that waaay too corny?

[bekah]

23.

Click Gee Golly

:-)

[Abigail]

24.

Ooh, I like Writ Large.

My nominations:

Backwards in High Heels

Cecily, Messily (not that you're messy)

[Amy]

25.

So, I'm not the thinnest girl on the block either, so I don't mean any disrespect, but I thought these were catchy names.

Did someone say the fat lady can sing?

The fat lady really can sing (and loudly too!!)

The fat lady sings

[Carly]

26.

The Real Cecily

Win some, Lose some

(I was also trying to think of something like "Not just your average Tattoo Chic" or something clever but that's failing me today. However, I include it in hopes that someone else can improve on it)

[Claudia]

27.

"Being Cec"

or better yet

"Being Cecily"

[Celeste]

28.

I like Writ Large.

I also favor using Cecily in it because it will help Googlers find you. My choice is "Cecily Speaks" for this reason (and who knows, you may want to segue into some kind of motivation speaking direction later--keep your options open!).

[Jo]

29.

I personally like

MsCecily.com
is something that perfectly captures the foul-mouthed, liberal, feminist, fat, alcoholic, ranting mother, wife, woman and writer that I am.

[Julie]

30.

I like "Cecily Speaks," too!
"All that is Cecily"
"Life of a Superwoman"
"Adventures of a Literate Lefty Fat Ranting Feminist Pirate Mom"

[jeanie]

31.

How about "Some Things Cecily Says - now say that six times fast without spitting"

or "100% Pure Cecily - now with added " and whatever you want your theme to be that day...

[jeanie]

32.

I just got inspired by another one.

"The Cec Spit"

[Molly]

33.

I sometimes make the self-deprecating joke "It ain't over 'til I sing." But I'd be honored to let you have it for your blog if you want it! (Course, it's still a little long.)

[Karen M]

34.

Lots of votes for "Writ Large" and for "Cecily."

What about "Cecily Writ Large?"

[Suz]

35.

What about "Girl Interrupted" like the movie, but maybe "Woman Interrupted" or "Cec Interrupted" Always thought that was a cool name for a movie.

[The Editter]

36.

Or Woman Uninterrupted!

[Sarah]

37.

Fertile Mind

[Veevs]

38.

Feminink (coz of your tatts)
Streets of Pennsylvania
Fattitude
Cecitude
Barren Womb, Fertile Mind (although Fertile Mind is a maternity clothing brand that's NOT MINE)
Thinking, Not Drinking
A Stiff Think (like a stiff drink)

I like Liferati and Writ Large.

[Veevs]

39.

Ooh, someone else posted Fertile Mind at the same time as me...

[Andrea in IN]

40.

heh. TheTin-foilHat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin-foil_hat

TheBarkingMoonbat
or
MoonbatCrazy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonbat

[Lara]

41.

How about:

"Birth Control Was Wasted On Me."?

Or maybe: "Largely Human."

Even: "Liberal, Foul-Mouthed and a Boatload of Knowhow."?

Of course you could try "Liberalism: $50.00, Feminism: $25.00, Foul-Mouthed Bullshit: Priceless."

[Kim]

42.

My suggestion is "Tattoo This."

I was just thinking about how you want to grow as a writer and leave your mark on the world with your writing, and since you have tattoos...yeah. Your thoughts are worth permanence, I guess is what I am saying.

I am not the best at coming up with names, but I thought it was short and somewhat catchy. :)

[Meg]

43.

I like 'Writ large', 'Ms. Cecily', and 'Largely Human'.

My creative energy is entirely consumed by a flu virus, so all I can do right now is vote. And complain publicly about the Pain In My Head in your comments. Because that's why you have comments right? Isn't this about me? :-)

Hell, maybe you could call your blog "Isn't this about me?" Yeah. Sorry. That's all I've got. More tylenol please. sniff. ugh.

[goodsandwich]

44.

I got nothin'. But Woman, Uninterrupted and A Stiff Think both are really appealing. I think both of those would have an appeal much broader than Writ Large or Largely Human, too (while those are both great, they seem to focus on one aspect of your persona).

[Jess]

45.

I've been noodling around a two-word name, with the second word being Diva because it is the woman of substance who sings the emotional song that is what everything is all about.

Modifiers I have come up with are Crotchety, Renegade, Rogue, but I think my favorite so far is Dissonant because it reflects the edginess that I think you want to capture in the name.

[z]

46.

wow! i love contests! i just wish i could come up with something clever and catchy and just fucking cool but i'm at a loss, as my own blog name can stand as proof.

hope you find that perfect name. i will be a faithful reader!

[Carolyn]

47.

Authentic Me or Authentic Cec

[Jac]

48.

'The tattooed bucolic'

We are the lambs guided by your wisdom..man I am so funny!!!

[car]

49.

"Uppity Liberal Fat Chick"?
"Suck this, Life!"?

Nah, I got nothin'.

[gillian]

50.

How about
"Truth Talkin' Tattoo(ed)Mom"
Spell check is out couldnt decide on Tattooed or Tattoed..lol

[Jaine/Jana]

51.

I don't care that you're a recovering whatever, a "fat" whatever (from a former/still-battling-anorexic), i think you're beautiful, and I am not lying... how about: (not original and i stil think YOU should come up with it) A CUP OF SHUT THE FUCK UP? (I know, I know an "expletive," satan forbid... but you can truncate/"edit it" to be more, "PC?" SHUDDER. how about "a nice cup of shove it?"
i adore you...especially Hammer/Bubba.

[jana]

52.

i can't type tonight but i think you get it.

[jana]

53.

btw, how does one know if you're an "alchy" or not?

[Holls]

54.

Love the 'foul mouthed bullshit: Priceless' one
fully radical......

by the seat of my pants......

'Cechato'......(CEcily, CHArlie, TOri) LOL....just love to say it! you need to say it in a flamanco dance type of way.....

'Oh so saucy!!' kinda sounds like a food blog.....

heh....really i have nothing.....but it was fun to think about.....good luck.....beautiful pic by the way!!

[Coral]

55.

okay, I have two:

"outspoken_and_movin'_on"

"sess_silly" (as you get questions of how to pronounce your name)

And I do like "A Stiff Think" - that is really creative.

Honestly I thought you would have spent hours thinking up "And I Wasted All That Birth Control"

Good luck in choosing one out of all of all your entries!

[Julia]

56.

I vote for "Writ Large". I also like "Self, Writ Large."

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

57.

Um, my thoughts aren't worth much on this topic since my own blog name came right out of my ass, too. :)

I will say that although "And I Wasted All That Birth Control" does not have direct bearing on what you want to write now, it *does* have resonance with a certain kind of 40-ish, foul-mouthed, cranky kind of new mom (uh, that would be me!) since I remember all those Ms. magazine articles and Glamour articles and gym teachers and what not (including my own mom) who all spent hours and hours and more hours encouraging us NOT TO GET PREGNANT, never dreaming that they were steering us so far in the other direction that it might become a problem for some of us. Anyway. Just sayin' that your original title has much more resonance for me than any of the suggestions I've read so far (stylin' though some of them are).

[denzylle]

58.

Kick Ass Mama

or

Kick into Touch

or

Cecily, Incessantly

[me]

59.

How about Big Mouthed Reformer, or Big Reformer; Big Mouth.

Good luck!

[moo]

60.

Am working on v. little sleep here, but here are my suggestions:

1.) Well-rounded

2.) Larger Than Life

3.) Bountiful Expansion

But, I must say, I was originally drawn to your blog BECAUSE of the title ... so I'll be somewhat sad to see it go, although I realize you feel it no longer really *fits* anymore. GL!

[Dana]

61.

"No excuses"

"On the edge of here"

"One woman, many voices"

No matter what you call it, I'll keep reading it!

[Heather]

62.

Oh, I can't resist.

So, lame as they may be:

"Three the Hard Way" (which I think reflects creating your awesome family despite all the adversity)

"Weighing the Issues" (pretty self-explanitory)

"A Liberal dose of Life"

Can you see now why I don't have a blog! Can't think of names (of course, I always thought "Give us this day our Daily Rant" but that's just because I thought of a blog as a place to bitch...)

[ls]

63.

tohellandback.com

[ls]

64.

tohellandback.com

[Ash]

65.

Long Time reader, hardly ever comment. I'm a bad person like that. I'm stuck with my blog title too. Ash in wonderland, just because I'm an uncreative little shit who couldn't come up with anything better.

I've still got nothing. ;)

Tori just keeps on getting prettier btw.

[Lisa S (aka Stolidoli)]

66.

I don't love Writ Large, but I loved the "...and I wasted all that mind control:..." one.

[ladykuri]

67.

"All the things that scare you"

Because you really are all the things that scare the people in this country- self confident, big, in charge, outspoken, intelligent and FEMALE. As much as people like to pretend it's been normalized, we're still very shocking when we speak out.

Or:
"Woman, redefined"

Again, a reference to being all the things women "aren't supposed" to be, and doing it so well! Does sound kinda post-op ish though, doesn't it? :p

[kate]

68.

"Largely Irreverent", a play on irrelevant (meaning that relevance to mainstream is overrated).

I don't know... I'm not very creative sometimes, but I love the fact that you are openly, proudly a foul-mouth. Most folks are just too dang uptight, and give curse words more power than they should, and to that I say, FUCK THAT!

[Kathleen]

69.

Name recognition is tough to cultivate and you've already got it.

I think the domain you picked is perfect for new clients and your professional writing business. But I wouldn't change the name of this blog.

[JenC]

70.

I think someone already said this, but it has such a nice ring to it:

foul-mouthed, liberal, feminist, fat, alcoholic, ranting mother, wife, woman and writer that I am

[Patrice]

71.

To keep it similiar how about "and I wasted all that control..."
or
"If I ruled the world..."

[kheatherg]

72.

I would just name it "Cecily" with a catchy sub name.

You want to be easy to find via google etc. (ie. Conversation at coffee shop---- "i was reading about some lady online the other day...... they had an article about her, hold on, lemme go google her name.....") and an easy name to remember so readership goes to huge proportions and ultimately giving you the job you want.....Paid blogging.

(I first found blogging through reading an article in a magazine.... it was one on Melissa, Suburban Bliss)

Just my thought, Now ya owe me a penny!

[Nicole]

73.

I'm not much good at coming up with original titles on my own. I think maybe a combination of old and new (suggestions) might work, like:

"Cecily, Redefined: Living Life after Infertility, Preeclampsia and Loss, Sobriety, Being Fat and More"

Maybe a bit long? I don't know. Just a suggestion. :)

[Amy]

74.

From the left hip

Left out loud

Shots from the left

Cecily, consequential

[S]

75.

"The Phoenix" or some variation thereof.

"The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise."
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra "El Quijote"

[PhotoLori]

76.

Off the top of my head....

Tatoo This...

On the Brink...

This Side of Normal...

I'll Have What She's Having...

A Side of Crazy

Redefining Female

Female Redefined

Fix This

Female and Foul

A Woman's Place

Word's Speak Louder

Open Your Eyes

Venture Out

Silence is...Overrated

The First Step

Black Sheep

The Spice Of Life

Judgement Day

The Book and The Cover

[PhotoLori]

77.

Off the top of my head (above) was me saying..."These are what I thought of, off the top of my head" BUT...Add that to my list of blog names. :)

LORI

[PhotoLori]

78.

Cec In The City

LOL

[Shazamama]

79.

I like the Cecily, Redifined: Life after........

Sounds like you are goign through what so many mothers do once they catch their breath - redefining how they want to live/parent/work, etc

I think it would be great if you kept the first part "and I wasted all that..." but put something else in if appropriate.

Stiff Think is also great.

[Christyna]

80.

Cecily Uncensored

[Y]

81.

"Foul-Mouthed Rants"

[Kat]

82.

I can't help but think about emphasizing your self-identity as a fat person. You're so much more than that, and what will naming your blog something that is essentially "I am fat" do to your ability to motivate yourself to eat healthy, exercise, etc? I don't read your blog because you're fat, I read your blog because we've had similar experiences, I like your attitude and hearing how you and your life has evolved since Tori has come along... Consider the types of people that will be drawn to a blog with a one-dimentional name (someone nixed "mommy" in the title for that reason).

I like Cecily Redefined as suggested above or something like that. Other suggestions:

-No Excuses
-Cecily's Next Chapter
-Being Cecily

[Tracy]

83.

Here's my entry...The No-Tori-us Cecily

[Mindy]

84.

In the top of Cecily's mind

like it or leave it

it's all about me

my blog, my rules

every thought cecily ever had

a day in the life of us

[suz]

85.

I like Cec in the City mentioned above although you're not in the city! How about "You, Me and Cecily". Yeah, I watch a lot of movies! Also, liked the No-Tori-us Cecily...cute.

[FishFace]

86.

I agree with kheatherg about using your name and a sub title. You have a not too common, distinctive name that will be easier for people to remember.

How about "Cecily, Fat and Happy"?

[Leanna]

87.

The After Party life after ....

thanks for taking your blog to the "next level" As a "mommy" to a three year old, I really think the only intelectual stimulation I get some days is from reading your blog..... don't always agree, but you sure keep brain cells firing.. can't wait

[leanna]

88.

that just looks weird........ THE AFTER PARTY

life after ...... ( not after life)

[DebbieS]

89.

"Cecily Speaks" *would* be kind of a neat riff on "Seth Speaks", wouldn't it?

Or gee, why not just call it, "That Fat Chick with the Tattoos and Pit Bull", like you're always saying your neighbors refer to you and Charlie? (ooh, maybe that would make a good tag line after the title?)

Or, let your dog be a guest blogger and call it "Hammer Time".

OK, ok, too few brain cells firing here...but honestly, Cecily, how are we supposed to sum *you* up in a short title? A Reader's Digest type 'o subject, you are not. But, good luck anyway, and nice move distracted us from gettin' all riled up about "the Change"!

[H]

90.

I know someone said this already, but I love the Writ Large suggestion combined with your name (to go along with the mscecily.com)...so my vote is for Cecily: Writ Large

91.

WTF Chuck?

[Kris]

92.

I like:
*Erratically Consistent
*Approaching Reason
*On the Edge of Beginning (or: The Edge of Beginning/Beginnings Edge etc.)

I thought these might be fitting for you and your past/present/future and weren't too long and wordy, with a real sense of (multiple) meaning.

If I have any other AH-HAs! I'll let you know!
K.

[Kris]

93.

OK...
Cecily: Approaching Reason
Cecily: Edge of Beginning
Cecily: Erratically Consistent

Now no one can steal/modify my ideas and get the credit...hehe.

K.

[Jean]

94.

Serendipidy Sucks

[Kerry]

95.

I'll admit, I didn't read every comment, so it may have been suggested already, but I like it jus the way you outlined it above:

foul-mouthed, liberal, feminist, fat, alcoholic, ranting mother, wife, woman and writer.

Or is that just too wordy? :)

[Ruby]

96.

Fuckity fuck is the perfect name for your blog.

[camille]

97.

How about "The Cec Pool"?

I love it.

But I'm not biased.

[Sarah]

98.

How about:
Reality Check

[sheilah]

99.

I like it simple. You named it yourself:

www.FoulMouthedLiberal.com

"The rantings of a foul-mouthed, liberal, feminist, fat, alcoholic, mother, wife, woman and writer."

[Amanda]

100.

I think a twist on the word NECESSARY would be good for your blog... instead of necessary, it would be:

NECECILY

sounds like necessary if you wriggle your tongue around a bit.

And why did I come up with this crazy word?

Because a meaning of necessary is:

1. being essential, indispensable, or requisite:

and that is what your blog is for me! a NECECILY! :)

But I will still come and read no matter what your blog title is.