Sunday, March 16, 2008

Welcome to My Blog and My First Entry.

First of all, welcome! I would like to thank my dear friend, Nicky Cooper from Cooper's Corridor for encouraging me to start a blog. I look forward to his blogs and check them daily.

Where to start? A part of me wants to say, " It was a dark and rainy night...", but after coming to my senses, I thought I would begin with my entrance into this wonderful world which happened at 3AM, on a night in May, in the year of 1947. To borrow a line from Victor Bruno, " It was a normal birth, besides a few hysterical shepherds.";-) I was born in a Catholic hospital in Detroit, Michigan where the nuns still wore their "black & whites." I was told the nuns aided in my father's selection of my given name. ( Phillip ) I was a large baby and was much bigger than the others in the nursery which led my grandmother (father's mom) to give me my nickname of Butch because of my size. When I was ready to start school, my other grandmother decided they should start calling me by my given name to save me from the confusion of not recognizing my name when called upon at school. ( we know someone else in the blogger's world who actually had this same problem but will remain nameless. ) ;-) What was interesting was some of my relatives called me by my given name and others stayed with my nickname. Perhaps, there was a wee bit of undertow going on, of which I wasn't aware. When I started visiting "the blogs," I decided to go back to using my nickname, which was not unlike getting in touch with an old friend and I have done so ever since.

I should like to cover many topics, some relevant, and some just blather. I hope you'll join me in the banter.

14 comments:

Cooper said...

Much welcome, dear Butch! I am so glad to see you join the throng with your particular brand of banter.

Lacey said...

Oh I'm SO looking forward to the blather. You're so butch. And having been born in 1947, you're the first blogger I've met who is actually older than me. Granted, not by much, still....

I'm just sayin'

Patrick said...

How fun to have a name come back like that... I've never had a nickname (I resisted 'Pat' pretty vigorously from the get-go, though I actually like 'Paddy'), so the experience of tapping back into one after a gap is fascinating to me. I'm looking forward to the banter.

Greg said...

Warm and happy welcome to Ye Olde Blogosphere! What fun to be here on Day One...

(heh...my word ver. is "pnbeez". I didn't realize they did that...)

Butch said...

Cooper: Many thanks for putting a bug under me and getting me moving in this direction. I know I will be picking your brain from time to time regarding questions on blogging. ( be patent, I'm a quick study. ) ;-)

Lacey: I won a contest today.
( the oldest one at the blog. );) I can tell you, I've earned every day of it. I noticed you do animal rescue. In my opinion, there aren't many things nobler than helping animals. Bless your heart.

Patrick: Maybe, we should start calling you Paddy if you like. My nickname has been an old friend and it is becoming comfortable hearing it and using it. There are many of my family and friends who will continue to call me by my given name but I'm confident it won't confuse me. ;-) By the way, I went to the new Irish Pub in town and the local Rugby team meets here as well. The place was packed, lots of noise, and we played through it until it was time to stop for the "real" band to play. Most of the group I played with consisted of many seisiúner from different seisiúns around the town. They headed over to another place where I mentioned to them that if the parking lot was packed I would continue on and head home. ( which is what I did 0 Tomorrow is another seisiún night and I plan on stopping in to play and say, Hi. This will be an interesting week.

Greg: I've recently, stopped by your blog and you have many beautiful pictures of your flowers, birds and other interesting shots of the water near by. At this end of the world, we are starting to watch the plants bloom as well. The trees have started "fornicating" and my sinuses are reacting to all of that. We used to keep a boat on the Sound year round and it would annually be covered with yellow pollen from the trees. ( one less thing to clean )
Many thanks for stopping be and commenting.

Joe Jubinville said...

My mother probably helped deliver you. She was an obstetrical nurse at St. Joseph Mercy.

In a gesture, then, of obstetrical enthusiasm, I welcome your new progeny into this delivery room, with all your loved ones gathered around in affection and delight. It's a blog!

Butch said...

Joe: LOL!! That's cute and what a brilliant segue from my birth to the birth of a blog. ( I'm starting to show the stretch marks from this ordeal, that is, if I can get away with attributing them to a blog birth. ;-) )

Did you grow up in the Detroit area at one time? If so, it truly is a small world. Unfortunately, your guess of hospitals was incorrect. I was born at Old St. Mary's Hospital which doesn't exist anymore. The parish church with the same name does survive and is in the heart of "Greek Town," an ethnic neighborhood, one of many in Detroit. (When I was singing in the classical genre I came full circle by once giving a recital in this church.) The only reminders of the old Greek Town are the stores and restaurants though there is a new casino owned by a Greek family. But like many of the enthnic neighborhoods of many cities, the demographics have changed considerably. Cork Town, the Irish area of Detroit where Irish immigrants settled is where my sister & her husband have their restaurant/pub called Baile Corcaigh. (Bally Cork) That, in its self is another story for the blog.

Many thanks for stopping by and your best wishes. ( Interestly, my word verification came up sasyznr.
"sassy." ;-)

Jacob said...

Butch, I have three significant Phillips in my life. All three, ordained priests. One is an Abbott of a small abbey in the New Mexico desert. The second, also Benedictine, still a monk of my own former monastery. And the third, the one who touched me most deeply and intimately as friend and confidant, is no longer with us. He was killed crossing a street in San Francisco after many years of having left the active ministry. Thank you for being a Phillip, Butch. A beloved with the friendship that the name professes.

Jacob said...

Oh my God---Joe has declared you a blog. It's ON, Baby! You are now legit. You are now a real boy. w00t!

Butch said...

Gawpo: Interesting how certain names come in and out of your life. Phillip from the Greek, is "lover of horses" I've been told. I wonder what led the nuns and my father to come to the conclusion of selecting this name? I'll never know since all parties have gone on to their "great rewards."

A huge welcome to my very new blog. I'm still trying to figure out how to work all the knobs and whistles and have yet to figure out how to place a picture(s) intermittently throughout an entry. You, Joe, Cooper, Paddy ( I'm trying this out Patrick ) are light years ahead of me. I will do better in time.

You have a point regarding Joe's comments. I guess I have joined the club here and I'm enjoying every minute of it. (any more clues as to the mystery person regarding Joe's dalliance? ) ;-)
" Enquiring minds want to know."

Simone said...

Hi Butch,

I came across your blog after having read Coopers for a while now.
Just started one here myself, liking it so far:)

looking forward to reading more:)

Butch said...

Simone: I left some messages for you on your blog. It looks as though I may be your first Commenter. ;-)

Stop by comment and say Hi, anytime.

Java said...

I've come by a little bit after the fact, but you're still wet behind the ears, aren't you? Welcome to the blogosphere. I've only had my blog for 6 months or so. I look forward to seeing what shows up around here in the months to come.

Butch said...

Java: Yes, I am still trying to learn where all the "bell & whistles" are let alone, how they all work. ;-)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you continue to do so.