Happy Halloween! I hope that everyone has a fun and safe Halloween weekend!Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Was It Juliet or Mick That Really Got It?
"What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet..."
-Juliet, Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet
By any other name would smell as sweet..."
-Juliet, Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet
"Pleased to meet you. Hope you guess my name."-Sympathy For The Devil, The Rolling Stones
My great grandfather was a 'Mac.' My father was a 'Chez,' rhymes with 'says' or 'Pez.' 'Chez' is the second syllable of my last name. Mc*Ches*ney. I have the Mc/Mac and the Chez in my name. Therefore, I have adopted both nick names. I relate and respond to both. Though my family still calls out Heather, I have rarely been referred to by friends as simply Heather since the age of 12.
When entering junior high school, it became apparent that there were several parents in the 70's that LURVED to name their daughters Heather. It was a popular name. It was the 53rd most used name in the United States in 1990. There were quite a few of us that went to school at John Adams Junior High School in Charleston, WV. In short, there were Heathers out the ass, and we all became friends. It became confusing and during a time when personal identity is utterly important, I felt lost in the Heathers. While some of the Heathers kept the Heather, others became HBs and initials, and I became as my father before me...Chez. I have remained Chez for the most part with the exception of a few years that I spent bar tending in an Irish Pub in Morgantown, WV.
McClafferty's Irish Pub in Morgantown is a home away from home. It is a Cheers of Motown. Some of my most favorite people patronize McClafferty's. It was here that the owner decided that his Scotch-Irish bartender would become Heather Mac. It caught on. Even today when visiting my former watering hole, I'm still referred to as Heather Mac. It's like your favorite sweatshirt, you can't wear it all of the time, but it sure does feel good to wear every once in a while.
With all of this said, I must tell you that I prefer not to be introduced to new people using any other name but Heather. Having just met, I prefer not to instantly assume that we will have that much familiarity from the get go. This is something that I have had to stress with friends when they are providing new introductions to acquaintances. However, with time, when it becomes natural, Chez is exceptionally appropriate and normally preferred. I handle my students in the same way. I introduce myself as Ms. McChesney; eventually current students mimic the familiarity of former students. They are also my *Macaronis. My friends are definitely my Macaronis.
Though I identify with my name and my nicknames, I believe that Juliet was maybe on to something. It's not necessarily what you call someone or something; it's more about who or what that person or thing REALLY is. To me, each name represents a specific time and location in my life. However, Mick knows a little bit about the human ego. My ego might be more than my sense of humanity at times. Either way, I am more than a name; I'm The Chez and YOU, You're The Macaronis.
*Wondering how I developed the idea of I'm The Chez and You're The Macaroni? Perhaps you need to listen to some more of the Beastie Boys.
McClafferty's Irish Pub in Morgantown is a home away from home. It is a Cheers of Motown. Some of my most favorite people patronize McClafferty's. It was here that the owner decided that his Scotch-Irish bartender would become Heather Mac. It caught on. Even today when visiting my former watering hole, I'm still referred to as Heather Mac. It's like your favorite sweatshirt, you can't wear it all of the time, but it sure does feel good to wear every once in a while.
With all of this said, I must tell you that I prefer not to be introduced to new people using any other name but Heather. Having just met, I prefer not to instantly assume that we will have that much familiarity from the get go. This is something that I have had to stress with friends when they are providing new introductions to acquaintances. However, with time, when it becomes natural, Chez is exceptionally appropriate and normally preferred. I handle my students in the same way. I introduce myself as Ms. McChesney; eventually current students mimic the familiarity of former students. They are also my *Macaronis. My friends are definitely my Macaronis.
Though I identify with my name and my nicknames, I believe that Juliet was maybe on to something. It's not necessarily what you call someone or something; it's more about who or what that person or thing REALLY is. To me, each name represents a specific time and location in my life. However, Mick knows a little bit about the human ego. My ego might be more than my sense of humanity at times. Either way, I am more than a name; I'm The Chez and YOU, You're The Macaronis.
*Wondering how I developed the idea of I'm The Chez and You're The Macaroni? Perhaps you need to listen to some more of the Beastie Boys.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Your Halloween Weekend Plans...
Get your GHOOOOOOOL on with Charleston's finest Hair Metal Band! The Sound Factory welcomes Bon Scott's Cock to the stage Friday Night! 
Trickem and Treatem Halloween Bash! You could win $1000 cash! It is sure to be the best Party in town!Benefit for Wade: The Sound Factory
Support a worthy cause and see some great live music! Tonight at The Sound Factory! $5 minimum donation.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
A Charleston Invasion!
Charleston is heading up I79 to take over Morgantown! Will you be there?
After WVU is done beating the snot out of The Herd, you need to head on down to McClafferty's Irish Pub to listen to Charleston's very own Tastes Like Chicken! That's right! One of our local favorites is taking over a Morgantown stage for one night only! Be there. You definitely don't want to miss this one! It's going to be one hell of a West Virginia Night!
McClafferty's doors are open all day! Music begins around 10! Call for cover: 304-292-1110.
Tastes Like Chicken is a classic rock band with a smooth mix of funk and blues. The band has been performing for years in Charleston, WV and will have long time Morgantown favorite Mike Puskin joining the line up as well as Evan Hammond sharing the role of lead guitar and keyboards. Tastes Like Chicken covers songs from artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Greatful Dead, the Allman Brothers and many more.
See you in the Blue Lot and McClafferty's Irish Pub! We'll do a carbomb together!!!
Mac/Chez/Heather
PS: Spread The Word!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
It Was A Dark & Stormy Night...
The Law School at WVU is currently sponsoring a Writer's Week for their faculty, staff, and students. One of the many activities that they are asking the WVU Community to participate in is 'It Was A Dark And Stormy Night" Writing Contest. They are requesting the best, original first sentences to a novel. Unfortunately, it appears that the contest is only open to the faculty, staff, and students. Nonetheless, I think it is creative and interesting.
As of 2006 The American Book Review had compiled a list of already published best first lines. You will see many of your favorites on this list. However, I believe that creating original lines could be a bit more of a challenge and I think this sounds like more fun. In fact, I'm going to use it as an activity for my AP Literature students this week. With that said, I'm curious as to the level of creativity some of you all possess.
Submit your best original first line to a novel in the comment section of the blog. Show off a little bit! Shows us all what you're made of.
As of 2006 The American Book Review had compiled a list of already published best first lines. You will see many of your favorites on this list. However, I believe that creating original lines could be a bit more of a challenge and I think this sounds like more fun. In fact, I'm going to use it as an activity for my AP Literature students this week. With that said, I'm curious as to the level of creativity some of you all possess.
What is your best original first sentence to a novel?
Submit your best original first line to a novel in the comment section of the blog. Show off a little bit! Shows us all what you're made of.
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