(no subject)

*yawn* Tired. As. Hell.

Last night was good. Elli came over and had dinner, and was introduced to Smallville. I don't think she was impressed, but then as season openers go, it rather lacked.

Angel, however, made us all happy. During the opening credits, Elli exclaimed "I've missed them!" I could not disagree.

Only, I miss Cordelia. Other than her muddled storyline last season, I felt they shafter her by writing her out. Stupid dumb doodoo heads.

Ah well. Spike will more than make up for Cordy's loss, really.

Oh, one more thing: I LOVE ELIZABETH!

What's in a name?

I've been giving a lot of thought, lately, to changing my name again, back to what it should have been all along.

See, when I was 18 I took the name Atreides, as I've said before, as a way of signifying I was free of all expectations of family and blood. I was a teenager, newly disowned by adopted parents, feeling disconnected from my real family, and angry at what I saw as abandonment.

I've felt anger, for many years, that my parents abandoned me. It wasn't a conscious choice on my mother's part -- she died, she didn't toss me aside. As for my father, I'll probably never know why he didn't find me later in life. Hell, for all I know he did try, but my name was changed before my mother died, and he would have had no way of knowing what it was.*

But now, as I stare down the barrel of 33, and for the first time in years admit that I'm pretty much guaranteed to breed, and have children ... I'm thinking it might be time to reclaim my true name, the one my parents gave me. I am the eldest son of the eldest son of my line. Shouldn't I pass that on? I don't know. And after 14 years as Atreides, it would be weird to change now, not to mention it would cost me $200 to $400 (depending on newspaper fees and court filing fees).

Honesty compels me to point out that some of this comes from Elli's comments to me, too.

So will I be Michael Eugene Atreides, or will I once more -- and, ironically, for the first time -- be Michael Robert Eugene Johnston? Either way I'm the same man, but names are important. I am undecided, and am willing to entertain your thoughts on the matter.

So, you know ... comment. Or not.

---

*That's justification; he could likely have found my mother's family and got the info from them.

(no subject)

Hmmm. Clouds are coming in. Seems I may get my wish for more autumn/wintry weather soon.