No, silly, my car doesn't have horsepower... it's a C-A-R.

I ran across this article regarding 4WDs that are used in the city and their drivers' attitudes. And it got me wondering about why people believe their cars mirror their personalities.

I looked out the window at my own car (make: Daewoo, model: Matiz) and wondered what people thought about me behind its wheel.

According to my financial advisor (aka my husband) it was affordable & good for city use. I'm not really great with what's under the hood, I leave that up to hubbie (it reaffirms his post as the only male/hunter in our house). My little Matiz is blue, shaped like an egg and looks like it is playfully smiling at the other co-cars that speed by. We sort of look alike (with the exception of blue). It is subtle, economic and low-priced, which pretty much sums up my life. I suppose that subconsciously I too have chosen a car that represents me out there on the highway of life.

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The making of a nickname

It's hard times for those of us who can't find an available nickname to use! I tried various forms of my name, my surname, anything that could "define me". Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. All the good ones were already taken on the web. I was left with either adding some obtrusive number next to my name, playing the nickname generator game or making something up.

I closed my eyes and made a pact with myself: The first "word" that comes to mind will be my official nickname (as long as it is not already taken on the web).
And out came: flubberwinkle
(OK, I gotta admit first came flubblewinkle, I played around with it by pronouncing it aloud several times, and finally modified it by replacing the "-le" with an "-er"). I wrote it down and looked really cute. I spoke it like it was a spell taught at Hogwarts' School of Magic. It made me think of something silly. I liked it. I was hooked.

Now onto the task of making sense of my newly formed, never-before spoken "flubberwinkle". Double-clicked my trusty WordWeb v.2.2. Unsuprisingly, flubberwinkle not found... however with a little imagination and a whole lot of humour I came up with the following reasoning:

Noun: flub [pronounced flub]
1. An embarrassing mistake
Verb: flub [flubbed, flubbing]
1. Make a mess of, destroy or ruin

and...

Noun: winkle [pronounced wingkul]
1. Small edible marine snail; steamed in wine or baked
2. Edible marine gastropod
Verb: winkle
1. Emit or reflect light in a flickering manner; of stars
2. Gleam or glow intermittently
3. Remove or displace from a position

I have a tendency to botch things up (therefore: flub) but I have a very positive disposition most days (therefore: gleam or glow intermittently). Elementary my dear Watson... I am "flubberwinkle". I am a gleaming messer-upper. Yup, that's me.

I googled "flubberwinkle". Came up empty. It is available. I have created it and thus sent it forth out on the web and it shall be mine, mine alone [sinister cackles] - I tell you, [lightning appears through lab window].
Thus it has been named, thus it shall be.

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Why a blog?

Well... OK I have to admit I've seen my share of bad personal websites that later evolved into "blogs" ("See my pet", "Here's Grandma and Grandpa at their 47th wedding anniversary", "This is my boyfriend"... you get the picture). And I always thought "Sheesh, what are these people up to? What's so great about posting personal stuff on the web?"

Well, time passed by and admittedly I found some blogs quite amusing and lo and behold.. even informative! I have laughed and have even been moved by some bloggers.

I will not even hint that my blog will be earth-moving or hand out any profound words of wisdom. I'm here for the fun of it. (OK, OK... I just got jealous and wanted in!)
So here I am! Flubberwinkle is online.

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