It’s a No Breener, trust me
In the snail trail that has been the path to naming my column, I
felt that I found the best title for it when I chose
”
Breenstorm
”
last week.
Then, after deadline and perhaps to test my resolve, more naming
ideas came in:
”
Breen Food,
”
a play on brain food;
”
Madam I’m Adam,
”
a palindromic suggestion from former San Benito High School
English teacher Linda Row;
”
Un-Naturally,
”
a counter to Mark Paxton’s
”
Naturally
”
column; and
”
Adam’s Ale,
”
as suggested by Paul Shanley, who said,
”
When the Pinnacle hits the newsstands, readers can quaff some
Adam’s Ale. Traditionally, Adam’s Ale was a nice cold drink of
water, so no non-drinking readers will be offended.
”
Stop, already! You’re all making my job harder.
It’s a No Breener, trust me
In the snail trail that has been the path to naming my column, I felt that I found the best title for it when I chose “Breenstorm” last week.
Then, after deadline and perhaps to test my resolve, more naming ideas came in: “Breen Food,” a play on brain food; “Madam I’m Adam,” a palindromic suggestion from former San Benito High School English teacher Linda Row; “Un-Naturally,” a counter to Mark Paxton’s “Naturally” column; and “Adam’s Ale,” as suggested by Paul Shanley, who said, “When the Pinnacle hits the newsstands, readers can quaff some Adam’s Ale. Traditionally, Adam’s Ale was a nice cold drink of water, so no non-drinking readers will be offended.”
Stop, already! You’re all making my job harder.
Then, John Sanchez of Tiffany Ford threw out 15 – yes 15 – ideas before the paper came out last week but after it had gone to the printer. I had no idea there were so many different ways to play on my last name.
“It’s a No Breener;” “Breen It On;” “Filled to the Breen;” “Ice Brean and Cookies;” “Chili Breens” (he must have been working on his e-mail at lunch); “Rice and Breens;” “Breen Town;” “Breen Eggs and Ham;” “Sweet Breens;” “Jelly Breens” (now I’m getting hungry); “I Breen You Happiness;” “Su-Breen Court;” “Mr. Breen Jeans;” “The Breen Mile;” and “El Breengo.”
Buried among Mr. Sanchez’s avalanche of creativity and food references was a name suggestion that made me Breenstorm whether I should change the name of my column before that name even appeared under my photo: “Breen Damage.”
It seemed so fitting for some reason, so despite my appreciation for the more than 40 ideas that crossed my desk – particularly my (first) first choice suggested by my teaching colleague Jim Ostdick, I have to go with “Breen Damage.”
That’s it, that’s all. Any suggestions that come in from this point forward will be read but not considered. I’ve changed my mind too many times and I’m not turning back. Trust me on this.
They Trust Me, They Trust Me Not
Speaking of trust, an international survey showed, not surprisingly, that the medical profession is the most trusted, is among the most admired, and includes the most eligible marriage partners, according to Reuters.
I don’t worry about being on the most-eligible list, as my eligibility expired in 1993, but I would like to be admired and trusted. That’s where the survey gets confusing for me.
Journalists, of which I am one, were listed among the professionals that people trusted the least – along with actors and musicians. The good news is that journalists were actually considered professionals in the survey, which is a silver lining. And it’s kind of cool that I’m lumped in with actors and musicians.
On the other hand, the other half of my professional life – being a teacher – is considered both a trusted and eligible profession, as well as the lowest paid.
So, I’m trusted when I’m teaching newspaper classes and making little money in Room 206 at San Benito High School every other day but on the days that I’m writing for the newspaper I am, as the story stated, among “the single least trusted group.”
Just trust me on this; if I worry too much about what other people think about me, I’m going to get Breen Damage. I hope you had a merry Christmas.
