The Birth of a Guttersnipe

Why guttersnipe? Short answer: because I like to call my friends names.


Or we could go with the long answer. Because I know you were hoping for story time. Guttersnipe is one of my many nicknames, and it was bequeathed upon me in my college days by my good friend Brat. He got that one from me. His roommate was Goober. Goober added the lesser known "sucks-to be-you" middle name that does not get pulled out anymore (he probably doesn't remember giving it to me, and if I were smart, I would let that one die a quiet death instead of posting it on a blog. But, hey, I have yet to explore whether you all will read it, so I'm feeling pretty good about my chances).

It all stemmed from discussion about terms of endearment. I called someone a name, and had to explain that really, that just showed my love for them. I think it might have been that I called Brat by the name I shall forever call him. From that day forward, Brat was the one true Brat. And Goober was born soon after. I got the more loving name of Holliberry from Brat, but he also embarked on a quest for a name equal to the love expressed in "Brat."


And then, one night, we were watching My Fair Lady. I have no idea what made the boys allow us to put that movie on in their presence, but one or two of them sat down and watched it with us. I have a hard time sitting through that one, and I'm a chick. Because, hello, "bring me my slippers?" Eliza should have hucked them at his head and left him for the stalker hanging out on the sidewalk. But I digress. We were watching that movie, and in one of the scenes, the main guy whose name escapes me called Eliza guttersnipe. At least I think it was him. I could be making that part up. In any case the name was flung out. And Brat turned to me, his quest at an end, and said, "Guttersnipe!" And Guttersnipe was born.

If you think I don't have a name for you, think harder. Most of you have them.